October 30, 1915 



nORTICULTUEE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDLCTED BY 



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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 communlcaUons should invariably be addressed to the office of HOETICCLTUKB. 



"If vain oar toll, we ought to blame the cnltore, not the solL"— /*^/f. 



Carnations 



Keep the surface of the soil for the present lightly 

 cultivated, which will give the air and sun a chance to 

 keep it sweet. Disbudding and removing the small side 

 shoots on the flowering stem are important matters. 

 Ever}' one of the buds surrounding the main one, if al- 

 lowed to remain, will draw nourishment from the plant 

 which ought to go toward developing the flower. The 

 carnation is not a warm house plant, and while you 

 must keep it near the 50 degree point, in order to make 

 the growing pay, the minute you get above that, go 

 careful. A weakened carnation plant, caused by too 

 much heat is hardly ever restored later in the season. 

 Let the day temperature with sunshine run up to 65 

 to 70 degrees. 



Cocos 



Where we have a call for fern dishes there is nothing 

 that will take place of Cocos Weddeliana for the 

 center of these dishes. Be very careful about giving 

 them water at the roots, as they will not stand a soaked 

 condition all the time. Give careful ventilation and 

 keep the atmosphere humid and wann by damping down 

 two or three times a day. Never let the night temper- 

 ature fall much below 65 degrees followed by a day tem- 

 perature of from 75 to 80 degrees. 



Ixias 



Can be grown in 5, 6 or 7-inch pans, placing six, 

 eight and ten bulbs respectively in each pan. They do 

 well in a mixture of fibrous loam three parts, well rot- 

 ted manure one part and ;i lililc sand. Crock the pans 

 well. After [ilanting them give a good soaking of water, 

 and no more until they become tolerably dry again. 

 These pans i-an be idimged in a fraiiic where they will 

 have .■^omc protecticui from Mry Innd weather. The 

 bulli« slioiiid l)c brought on slowly as they do not take 



Next week— .\z«leas; t'inerarhis; t'.v< Iiimr 



to hard forcing. Start them at 45 degi-ees and increase 

 it until you have tliem standing about 55 degrees, night 

 temperature, with a day heat of al)out 65 to 70. 



Pot Roses for Easter 



Do not forget to lift the roses intended for Ka.^ter. 

 The best sizes to pot them in are 6, 7 or 8-inch pots. 

 Where the roots are long or straggly prune them in 

 somewhat. Do not fail to give proper drainage in 

 each pot as when the spring comes they will require 

 plenty of water. Finn the soil well among the roots. 

 When potted give a good soaking of water. Do not 

 prune them severely now, but cut them back a bit and 

 just before starting them up you can head them back 

 good. They can be given a cool pit for a couple of 

 weeks before they are placed in a deep frame or cool 

 shed. Wlien placed in frames always plunge the pots 

 so they will not break with hard freezing. During mild 

 spells look them over for water, as they should never 

 become too dry at the roots. 



Shrubs for Spring Forcing 



There is no better time for llie lifting and potting 

 of this stock for Easter forcing than now. Use pots 

 just large enough to contain the roots. Give good drain- 

 age and good soil, .\fter potting give a good watering 

 and place anywhere handy to water. They will make 

 some new roots between now and the time for very cold 

 weather. Wlien the winter sets in they can be placed 

 in a cool shed or cellar until they are wanted for focing. 



Planting Violas, Daisies, Aubrieties, Myosotis, 



Etc. 



It is time now to get all these planted in their winter 

 <|uarters. Add some new soil and leaf mold to the 

 frames, with enough of manure to make it rich and they 

 will make better plants when needed. Give room 

 enough and firm well around each plant. See that they 

 have a good watering after they are all planted, (iive 

 ])ienty of air while the good weather lasts as this puts 

 tbeiii in good condition to go through the winter. 

 ; Orchids; Poinsettlas; Starting Bnlbs. 



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