September 4. 1915 



ir H T I C U L T U R E 



309 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BY 



9^.1^,i^Az£i^ 



QoMtloBi b7 our readen In line nitb aoy of the topic* preaeoted on tbU page will be cordlaUy receWed and promptly antwered 

 Soch commanlcatlona abonld Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICUliTCBK. 

 **If t»Lb our toll, we oagrht to bUune th« cmltlir«. not the aoU." — /Vy/. 



Ur. ParreU. 





Cattleyas 



We are likely to have a good deal of warm, humid 

 and cloudy weather before September closes and it be- 

 hooves us to see to it that the shading over the cattleyas 

 is not too dense. Those who can afford roller or other 

 movable shades have a great advantage in being able 

 to give their plants a maximum of light when it is 

 most needed. Watering .should be done in the morning. 

 Plants sucli as C. labiata, Trianse, Jlossiae, Percivaliana 

 and others in active growth, will need a liberal supply 

 more than C. Gaskelliana. Dowiana and others which 

 are just starting into growth. A spraying each clear 

 afternoon should be given the cattleyas. Do it suf- 

 ficiently early so that it will dry before nightfall. Night 

 temperatures are variable during September. As a 

 general rule it can run from 60 to 65 degrees. Some 

 nights it will be higher and it will do no hann if it 

 falls to 58 degrees on cool evenings. It is not a good 

 plan to shut the house up tightly on a cool night. Leave 

 some air on to keep the atmosphere buoyant. 



Cinerarias for Easter 



Cineraria seed sliould In- ~iiwn any time from the 

 middle of September but no later. Sow in a well 

 screened compost of new loam and peat or leaf mold 

 half and half and a little sand. Have the pans well 

 drained with plenty of crocks, upon which spread some 

 sphagnum moss. Fill the pans to within half an inch 

 and press firm and absolutely level. Water thoroughly 

 before sowing and cover each pan with a pane of glass 

 and place in cold frame under heavy shading, to be 

 made lighter after the plants are up. When large 

 enough, prick out into other pans or flats, and when 

 they have made three or .four leaves they can be potted 

 into 2 or 2i-inch pots, using a compost of fibrous loam 

 three parts, leaf mold and cow manure one part each 

 and enough sand to keep it open. 



Freesias 



Give these little bulbs a good place well up to the 

 glass. Keep the soil moist but not overwet. Provide 

 proper supports to keep them upright. The earliest 

 batch should now be several inches high and to get them 



Neit Week;. Carnntlons: Oerantum Cuttings; Ijifting Hydrnnpens 



in flower as early as possible they should be moved into 

 a sunny house where a winter minimum of 52 to 55 

 degrees is maintained. It is often possible to use shelves 

 for them, providing saucers where the plants are in pans 

 to preveiit drying out later in the season. 



Tulips 



With the arrival of September it is time to think of 

 tulips. Tulips are more in demand in pans or pots 

 than any other Dutch bulbs. Use a light but moderately 

 rich compost. Two-thirds decayed loam, one-third old 

 hotbed or mushroom manure, with a fair addition of 

 leafmold and plenty of sharp sand will be found suitable, 

 and it is all the better if it is prepared well beforehand. 

 It is safer not to add bone or any chemical fertilizers 

 to soil for bulbs, as it is more likely to injure than to 

 improve the plants. Water thoroughly and place out- 

 side and cover with about five or six inches of soil. 

 With some protection they can stay here until wanted. 

 Tulips do not force well until after January. 



Winter Flowering Geraniums 



Geraniums for winter use should not be allowed to 

 get ]5otbound between shifts. Should they show starva- 

 tion in their blooming pots, a dusting of fine bone or 

 other fertilizer or weak nitrate of soda water will tone 

 them up. Give an occasional spraying overhead. The 

 regular winter blooming geraniums being gi-own in pots 

 should have the stroug leading shoot* pinched as they 

 show any tendency to "run away," also keep all flower 

 spikes picked off. Dead leaves and weeds should be 

 removed and the plants frequently spread out while 

 growing. They like a freely ventilated house. In a 

 nmsty, ill-ventilated one they will develop bacteria. 

 Let them dry out once in a while and when watering 

 give them enough so as tr> soak tlie ball thomusrhlv. 



Watch Out for Frost 



While some growers are so crowded tliat it is ne-xt 

 to impossible for them to house all their stock in a 

 hurry it must be remembered that from this out we 

 are liable to have a touch of frost at any time in some 

 of our northern slates. See that stock is brought to- 

 gether so they can be given protection at any moment. 



MIdsenson Sweet Pen*'; Preparing Soil; .Starting Firing. 



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