December 11, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



761 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^^^>->-%.9^.T-ayiAz^ 



QuestloDs 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 HORTICDLTUKE. 



"If vain onr toil, we ought to blame the cnltnre, not the soli." — Popt. 



Carnations 



The second tier of wire and string supports will now 

 be needed so the stems will grow straight and some of 

 the taller ones will also soon need the third support. It 

 can be put on just as easily now as later aiul will not 

 be in the way. Look after the disbudding from now on. 

 Not only will it enlarge the bloom, but it will also help 

 to stiffen the stems. If disbudding is ever needed it 

 is at this season. One great mistake which inexperienced 

 growers often make is to close the ventilators tight in 

 the evening after a bright day, thinking to corral a lot 

 of heat in a house. It is better to run a little more heat 

 and have a crack of air on all night. Plenty of fresh 

 air is the best preventive of disease. It makes no dif- 

 ference whether the temperature is abnormally high or 

 low, fresh air will aid the plants to bear the unnatural 

 conditions. 



Care of Palms 



Jlost palms should have plenty of light during the 

 winter, only keeping enough shade so they will not 

 scorch. Do not neglect syringing, and, once a month, 

 give them a good sponging. All palms like a short win- 

 ter season of rest. This can be brought about by lower 

 temperature and drier atmosphere with less water at the 

 roots. At all seasons of the year they should have as 

 much air as possible according to outside weather condi- 

 tions. 



Pelargoniums 



Those that were struck in September will require now 

 or before long a 4-inch pot. Use a compost of fibrous 

 loam three parts and well rotted manure one part some- 

 what roughly broken up and give plenty of drainage. 

 Give them uniforai ventilation whenever possible. These 

 plants like a dry atmosphere. \Vhen they have filled 

 their pots with roots they can be given a shift. Fumigate 

 with tobacco smoke regularly once a week. Have the 

 temperature run anywhere from 45 to 50 degrees at 

 night with usual rise during the day. Be very careful 

 and do not apply water until the soil is quite dry. 



Propagation of Carnations 



Having decided (o begin propagating your carnations^ 

 and having overhauled and whitewashed'thc bench, fill- 

 ing in the sand is the next step. The whitewash should 

 be thoroughly dried before any sand is put on. Fill 

 in to a depth of about three inches or a little over be- 

 fore it is packed down. It is well to screen all propa- 

 gating sand to make sure there is no trash of any kind 

 or lumps of clny in it. When packed down it should 

 be two and one-half inches deep. When inserting the 

 cuttings always begin at tlie back of tlio bench and 

 work towards you, and when one row is full draw an- 

 other line to the right of it and one and one-half to 

 two inches away, and begin inserting from the back 

 again. When you have inserted the last cutting then 

 place the label directly in front of it as though it were 

 a cutting. On this label should be written plainly the 

 name of the variety in full and the date they were 

 inserted. 



Sweet Peas 



Great care is neccssar}- to avoid a too di7 or too moist 

 atmosphere. An excess of fire heat and aridity will 

 bring red spider, while opposite conditions with irregu- 

 lar ventilation will just as surely cause an attack of mil- 

 dew. Give uniform minimum temperature of about 50 

 degrees. There are no days so cold but some ventila- 

 tion can be given. On bright days the thermometer can 

 run up to 60 degrees before air is given, and, with free 

 ventilation a shade maximum of 70 degrees is all right. 

 At this season it is safer to underfeed rather than the op- 

 posite. Avoid the use of forcing stimulants. Safer 

 foods are cow or sheep manure, applied either in liquid 

 form or as a top-dressing, which can be lightly forked 

 ill. The phint-^ arc unable to assimilate anything like 

 tiie same amount of plant food now a.s two months hence. 

 Tying must be regularly attended to for once any stems, 

 become bent the flowers are unsalable. 



Double Sweet Alyssum 



Stock plants lifted early in the Autumn, and potted 

 should be given a position at about 55 degrees at night. 

 These will later on make fine material for cuttings. They 

 can be propagated in a cool projiagating bed. 



Next Week :— Asparagus plumosus; Calanthes; Decorative Ferns: Manure for Crops; Propagation. 



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