September 25, 1915 



HORTICULTUBE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BT 



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QuMUoni by oar readen Is line with any of the topics preaeot«d on thu pac« will be cordial^ reivlTed and promptly aoawered 



by Mr. FarreU. Sncb commonlcatloai sboald Inrarlably be addreaaed to tbe office of aORTICUL.TUBE. 



"If nrfa onr toll, we oncht to bimme the ealtmie, sot tbe aell." — Pope. 



Allamandas 



Plants that wcif pruned la.st spring to within a joint 

 ■>r two and these when they had made two or tliree 

 whorls of leaves pinched again and so on during the 

 summer will bv this time have formed nice bushy speci- 

 mens. Water may be withheld till they flag but do not 

 allow tlie wood to shrivel. In fact allamandas can be 

 so managed as to have them bloom at any time of the 

 year by first resting the plants then pruning them back 

 and then encouraging root action. If these plants are 

 required for early flowering they should now be kept 

 drier at tho roots so as to harden and ripen up their 

 wood. They will rest well in a temperature of 50 to 55 

 degrees, but when starting them into bloom keep them 

 at 65 degrees and give an abundance of water as soon 

 as they get into active growth. These plants are well 

 worth to grow where yellow flowers are wanted; they 

 adapt themselves beautifully to various forms of deco- 

 rations. 



Care of Palms 



Now that the sun is losing its power we can discon- 

 tinue shading. Get them inured to the sun by reduc- 

 ing the shading little by little until they are standing 

 full sun. Syringings once a day during bright weather 

 will now be enough. Root action is becoming less and 

 less so- they will not need so much moisture as a month 

 liack.- For large palms it will be well not to run the 

 temperature any higher than about 60 degrees night with 

 about 10 degiees liigher during bright weather. After 

 the summer's heavy syringing and moving about the 

 soil may be loose and they may have lost some of their 

 ' onipost. It will be well to go over them and replace 

 iiriy of this lost soil. Also give them a good cleaning 

 by sponging the foliage. 



Ferns 



After some months of labor with the Boston fern and 

 others of the same family we are now at the season 

 when we will have to get them into shape for the winter- 

 and spring sales. Those who made a practice of plant- 

 ing out their Boston ferns during the summer months 

 on benches should lose no time in getting the stock 

 potted up. The average florist retailing his stock has 

 use for Boston ferns from 4-inch pots on up to 12 inch 

 pans and it is wi'll to make up what will be needed 



Next Week:— Chrysanthemums; Clirlsimns Pyrlamfn ; f'arn.itlc.iiB; 



in the larger sizes when lifting the plants. There is no 

 trouble in getting made-up plants established in a verj' 

 few days if they are kept in a shady house, but don't let 

 them remain there any longer than necessary. They can 

 stand a good deal of sun and plants which have had a 

 rather cool house and but little shade will be more satis- 

 laetory as house plants than soft stock. When potted 

 up keep the atmosphere moist by damping down. 



Orchids 



Deudroluum iiobile, and many Dcnclrobiuin hybrid* 

 should now have their growths completed and be ready 

 for a ripening process in a cooler and dry house. Re- 

 duce the water supply considerably l)ut spray overhead 

 on clear, hot days, such as we often get in October and 

 XovenilKT. nendrobium Phalaniopsis Schroederianum 

 is at its Ik'sI under warm house culture, and should have 

 a night temperature of C") degrees when developing it< 

 flower spikes. This orchid succeeds best in ([uite small 

 pans or baskets, which dry up rapidly, and. if time will 

 l)erniit. the best method of watering is dipping in a pail 

 o!' tub. At this season twice a week will suffice. D 

 Phal;i'no])sis is more diflicult to keep in good condition 

 year alter year. It does well in a hot, humid, old- 

 rashioncd stove-house. 



Poinsettias 



Keep the temperature where the poinsettias are, at 

 al)Out 60 degrees during the night, which can be raised 

 10 to 15 degrees more during sun.shine. As they grow 

 give the pots more room. Do not let them becopie 

 t-rowded as they will draw up and grow lanky. On all 

 bright mornings give them a light spray and keep the 

 air of the house moist. When ventilating do it so as 

 not to create any cold drafts or chilly atmosphere 

 around the plants. Prom this out you will have to 

 watch the waterings, as there is no plailt more atTected 

 by careless watering tliati the poinsettin. 



Necessary Repairing 



All repairing that has been put ofT until imw should 

 be done without delay as the days are becoming shorter 

 and the nights much cooler. This repairing will include 

 fmtting in broken glass, replacing loose putty and paint- 

 ing where needed, and putting the boiler,*! in the ven- 

 best shape before the cold weather sets in. 



Christmas Lilies ; Planting Trees and Slinihs ; Wasted ncnch Space. 



«U, 



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