December 18, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BY 



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QuMtlona \sj our readers In line with «ny 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 HOETICDLTUKK. 



"If v»ln oar toll, we ought to blame the culture, not the soil." — Fopr. 



Asparagus plumosus 



From now on there is nothing better than a good rich 

 mulch put on from time to time. After the New Year 

 they can have plenty of liquid manure. Asparagus 

 plumosus is a greedy feeder, and additional nourish- 

 ment in some form must be given. From this out it 

 is always well to let the surface of the soil become fairly 

 dry before giving water. When doing it, however, give 

 them a good soaking. Keep the house moist, as when 

 this is wanting luxuriant growth is impossible. See that 

 the young leading growths are kept nicely wound 

 around the strings. Give the surface a frequent stirring 

 to keep the soil open and sweet. About 65 degrees at 

 night, in the coolest weather, and a deep and richly 

 manured compost are the essentials to successful aspar- 



gus culture. 



Calanthes 



When the blooms begin to open, calanthes should be 

 kept as near the glass as possible and in a night tempera- 

 ture of from 60 to 65 degrees. During the day, if the 

 sun shines, 70 or 75, but if the day is dark 65 to 70 

 will be about right. Wlien the flowers are half ex- 

 panded they can be removed to the cooler end of the 

 warm house where their long sprays of bloom will keep 

 in perfection for some weeks. Don't apply too much 

 water when the plants are in flower — only enough to 

 keep the soil from drying out too much. This is a good 

 orchid for the commercial growers, excellent for cut 

 flower purposes and having fine lasting qualities. Cal- 

 anthe Veitchii and C. vestita are good sorts. After 

 flowering they should be rested in about the same de- 

 gree of heat as they were grown in for a period of from 

 eight to ten weeks during which time water should be 

 withheld gradually. 



Decorative Ferns 



From now and up to the middle of February all ferns 

 generally used by the florist will stand full sun. For 

 ferns that require a medium temperature, 55 to 60 de- 

 grees will do, while those that require stove heat should 

 be given from 60 to 65 degrees at night. Handle the 

 ventilation so as to give them a proper amount of fresh 



Next Week :— Cinerarias ; Cyclamens; Stock Chrys 



air without chilling draughts. Ferns always like a 

 certain amount of atmospheric moisture through the 

 house, but extremes either way should not be allowed. 

 As a rule from this out wait until they show a slight 

 dryness at the root and then give them enough water 

 so it will run through the bottom of the pot. Go over 

 them often and give a cleaning of old foliage, etc. 



Manure for Crops 



On the amount of plant food we have in all composts 

 for crops growing inside, will depend success or failure. 

 Florists all agree in giving a good grade of well-decayed 

 barnyard manure first place among fertilizers for gen- 

 eral use, but all experience the same difficulty in pro- 

 curing it in a condition sufficiently decomposed for im- 

 mediate use. They must therefore lay in fresh manure 

 which at this time of the year is not hard to obtain. 

 Pile it up and give it time to decay. Forked over once 

 or twice during the progress of decomposition it will be 

 in proper condition for use next spring. Horse manure, 

 if not stirred up frequently, bums quickly and is then 

 of little value. Refuse or spent brewers' hops does not 

 heat so quickly and needs no forking. 

 Propagation 



It is much more satisfactory to take cuttings now and 

 pot them along. Plants so treated will later on produce 

 plenty of cuttings, Coleus, alternanthera, achyranthes, 

 verbenas, petunias, salvias, heliotropes, fuchsias, German 

 ivy etc., will all root in a short time. Lobelias, ageratums 

 and petunias should be propagated now, and of course 

 geraniums can hardly be overdone. For altemantheras, 

 \ is better to use flats about 2 to 3 inches in depth, 

 using either sandy soil or a layer of soil in the bottom 

 with sand on top. Insert cuttings of about 2^ inches 

 in length and they can remain in these flats all winter 

 in a temperature about 65 degrees at night. 

 Secure Plenty of Flats 



In two or three weeks we shall have need for a lot 

 of flats to BOW seed and to prick stock into. See that 

 they are put in good order. Do not leave this job until 

 later on but get busy now and prepare enough of them. 



inthcmums: Miles for Easter; Violets: Verbcnns. 



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