October 23, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



533 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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Questions by our readers in line with any of the topics presented on this page will be (■Didiallv received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the otHce of HOKTICULTURB. 



"If vain onr toil, we ooKht to blame the caltnre, not the noil." — Popf. 



Adiantum 



Adiantum ciineatiim and Croweanum will need a 

 temperature of at least 55 to gro-n- well. This tem- 

 perature will grow all intermediate ferns but for stove 

 species about 65 degrees at night will be required. Ex- 

 amine the beds every day for dry spots, which should be 

 watered. They will have to be kept moist at the roots, 

 but not continually wet. The weather now will make 

 it quite hard to ventilate right but always make it a 

 point to give air whenever possible. When the growth 

 becomes strong give them a mulch and weak liquid 

 manure water once a week. 



Azalea mollis 



Do not fail to get a supply of these azaleas as they 

 are very fine for forcing during late winter and spring. 

 As soon as received they should be potted up as they 

 do not gain anything by lying around. Pot firm and with 

 good drainage and place where they can be kept cool 

 such as a deep cold-frame. Here they can remain dor- 

 mant until wanted for forcing. Take a good look at the 

 list of these azaleas and you will be able to pick out 

 some very fine and charming colors. By the end of 

 January you can bring some of them in and force them 

 along. A well flowered plant will always find a ready 

 buyer. It takes from six to eight weeks to force them 

 into bloom in a temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees. 



Begonias 



Attractive four-inch begonias of the best kinds from 

 the semperflorens class may be had by next spring if 

 they are started now from cuttings. The time when 

 most of our Rex and flowering begonias can successfully 

 be propagated is not limited to any certain seasons but 

 we have found now to be the most convenient month 

 in which to work up a supply. We then can rely on 

 steadily held bottom heat, which is an essential — at 

 least a" helpful factor — in leaf and cutting propagation 

 to be carried on with dispatch and no loss worth con- 

 sidering. Some kinds of shrubby begonias, however, 

 onlv furnish good cuttings in early spring. These 

 plants are given something of a rest from the present 

 on and their propagation is deferred until the time 

 mentioned. 



Next Week: — Carnations; Cocos; Ixlas; Pot Roses for Easter; Shru 



111 



Lily of the Valley 



Until the beginning of the new year cold storage pips 

 take the place of the newly imported lily of the valley 

 for forcing. After that the latter proves fairly satis- 

 factory though somewhat slow and often furnished but 

 sparingly with foliage. The nearer we come to the end 

 of the present cold storage supply the less time it takes 

 to force the pips into bloom. The latter from start to 

 finish takes about three or four weeks under a temper- 

 ature of from 75 to 80 degrees with sand kept well 

 soaked and the air in the house also kept charged with 

 moisture to the extent of being just perceptible to one 

 entering the house. By putting in batches every three 

 weeks you can keep up a steady supply for cutting pur- 

 poses. When the bells begin to open be very careful 

 about watering as they will damp if allowed to remain 

 wet through the night. At the start keep the atmos- 

 phere damp but when the bells begin to open let the 

 atmosphere become much drier. 



Spiraeas (Astilbe) 



Prominent among plants forced into bloom for early 

 spring and Easter ai'e spiraeas. There is no immediate 

 need of potting them at their arrival if root balls hold 

 firm, as is the rule. For the present they may be 

 heeled in frames covered lightly with loose litter to pre- 

 vent freezing of the soil into a solid mass and left until 

 after the holiday rush is over. The roots should then 

 have a good soaking, the plants brought in, potted up 

 and slowly accustomed to artificial heat. One may 

 easily figure on fully three months of steady forcing in 

 an intermediate house to have spiraeas in presentable 

 trim for the Easter trade and on considerable less time 

 if the finished jilanis are wanted for the usual late 

 spring business. Spiraeas when in good growth and 

 ])erfecting their bloom are ever thirsty and must not 

 be allowed to reach a state approaching dire need of 

 water. 



Outside Work 



Get all protecting material togetlier for the frames. 

 Fix up all breakages in glass not already repaired. Do 

 not neglect to look over the houses outside for leaks 

 iind broken glass and repair without delay. Large tubs 

 of oleander, agapanthus, etc., should be given a cool 

 shed if there is not room in some of the cool houses. 

 Chionadoxa, scillas and other similar small bulbs can 

 lie planted now between shrubbery and herbaceous 

 borders and make a fine show in the spring. 



bs for Spring Forcing; Violas, Daisies, Aubrletias Myosotls, etc. 

 Frames. 



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