October 9, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



( ONDrCTEI) BY 



^*^^^.9^.r-ayiA.e^ 



Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



"If vain our toll, we ought to blame the cnltnre, not the io\\."~Pi>ft. 



Mignonette 



See that the plants are well supported to keep the 

 stems upright. Keep all unnecessary side growths re- 

 moved to throw the full strength into the flowering spike. 

 Where the plants have been started early the bench will 

 in most cases be filled with roots so now is a good time 

 to give them a mulch of equal parts of soil and well 

 rotted cow manure. This can be put on about half 

 an inch deep. Don't put it on too heavy but follow 

 with another mulch in five or six weeks. It will do 

 them more good this way. On bright mornings they 

 can be syringed. Look the beds over often for the dry 

 spots and water them. Give light fumigation every week 

 and plenty of ventilation when possible. 



Double Tulips for Easter 



Double tulips, such as Murillo, Salvator Rosa and 

 Couronne d'Or are particularly good for pot and pan 

 culture. 6 to 10-inch pans seem to be the best sellers. 

 Any good compost will do. See that each pan or pot has 

 good drainage. It is well to have quite a number in 4 

 and 5-inch pots, tliree bulbs in the former and five in 

 the latter. These pans or pots can be placed in a deep 

 frame and plunged and with some protection will do 

 until about five weeks before Easter. 



Ericas 



These old favorites are coming to the front more and 

 more as pot plants. For the Christmas holidays there is 

 nothing better than Erica melanthera. Give them the 

 coolest house as they will not require much pushing to be 

 in on that date. Anywhere from 4-5 to 48 degrees night 

 temperature will hold them in good shape. If there is 

 any plant that likes lot of air it is the Erica. Give ven- 

 tilation on all possible occasions, and remember to keep 

 the compost in the pots in an even state of moisture all 

 the time. If they do not soak through, which is often 

 the case, plunge them in a tub of water and leave them 

 there for a while. 



■/vew y, 

 Liliutn longiflorum *^^Ta,\)(_ 



Longiflorums for Easter can now be potted into 6-inch •**fi^ei 

 pots which will lie large enough for the trade. Us^ good 

 new soil, three parts, well rotted cow or horse manure 

 one part, and see that each pot has plenty of drainage. 

 Put in some cool place until they have made lots of 

 roots; a cellar or a deep frame will suit them. Some- 

 time before January they can be placed in a house that 

 stands about 50 degrees at night. If there is not room 

 in cellar or frame they can be placed on a high piece of 

 ground and covered with about six inches of soil. When 

 cold weather sets in they can have some long manure 

 put over them for protection. 



Phlox 



From now on up to the end of October is the best 

 time to make new borders or divide and replant old 

 ones. When phloxes are grown commercially it is es- 

 sential that the soil be spaded deep — or still better, 

 trenched. Then apply a generous amount of well rotted 

 manure. Any extra labor and fertilizer put into the 

 preparation of the border will be repaid for some years 

 afterward in results. It pays to trench the ground well 

 for this perennial and have plenty of well decomposed 

 manure thoroughly incorporated with the soil. Good 

 varieties to plant are Nettie Stuart white shaded 

 pink, White Swan, pure white and Rosy Gem clear rose. 

 A few specially good forms of P. decussata are Inde- 

 pendence, Le Cygne, Albatrc, Jeanne D'Arc, all pure 

 white ; Le Soleil rose, Coquelicot, orange scarlet ; General 

 Chanzy scarlet; R. P. Struthers, salmon pink. 



Temperature 



We are now coming to the season when we can keep 

 a more even temperature in our several departments. 

 The cool house can he kept at from 45 to 50 for night 

 with a rise during sunshine to 55 to 60 degrees. Inter- 

 mediate house 55 to 60 at night, day 65 to 70 degrees. 

 Warm house 60 to 65 degrees night temperature, day 

 "0 to 75 degrees. This temperature is meant for a 

 •leneral run of florists' stock only. 



Next Week: — Bouvardlas 



Crops to Take Place of Chrysanthemums; Bulbs for Outdoors; 

 Ground; Shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day. 



Forcing Gladioli; Preparing Sweet Pea 



BOOM YOUR BUSINESS 



hy aJoerthing your goods in the 



HorticMltujire 



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