August 2, 1919 



HORTICULTUBE 



99 



GOOD POT PLANTS FOR THE 

 TRADE 



This question is' quite a compre- 

 hensive one if fully replied to. In the 

 following partial list some of the most 

 desirable species and varieties are 

 given ; the most common method of 

 propagation, also the approximate 

 date tor starting cuttings or seed, with 

 brief notes as to their comparative 

 merit as pot plants. 



Cyclamen. 

 The giant strains of these are 

 usually grown, the colors ranging 

 from pure white to various shades of 

 pink and deep crimson. One of the 

 best selling and best paying florists' 

 plants, if good strains are secured," 

 and the plants properly grown, drown 

 from seed started in August or early 

 September. It takes from 14 to 18 

 months from time of sowing the seed 

 to produce flowering plants. Flower- 

 ing season November to April. 

 Primulas. 

 Primulas are among the most popu- 

 lar and best paying pot plants. There 

 are several types that are especially 

 suited for decorative work. P. mala- 

 coides, of comparatively recent intro- 

 duction (1902), is probably the best, 

 as its delicate spikes of lavender pink 

 to white can be used for short time, 

 cut flower work. As a table or win- 

 dow plant it is hard to beat. P. sin- 

 ensis, better known as the Chinese 

 Primula, comes next, while P. kew- 

 ensis, with its golden yellow flowers, 

 is also useful. Seed of any of these 

 primulas can be sown from early in 

 March to end of May. July and 

 August are not good months for start- 

 ing primula seed. Sown later than 

 this they do not come in early enough 

 to prove profitable, as primulas do not 

 sell well after the end of April or 

 early May. 



Cinerarias. 

 Showy, effective pot plants, but sub- 

 ject to green aphis and red spider. C. 

 grandiflora, the large flowering kind, 

 is being largely superseded by C. 

 stellata and its variations. Seed may 

 be sown from middle of June to middle 

 or ead of August. C. stellata, with 

 its large, many flowered heads of many 

 hued flowers, makes a very effective 

 window or conservatory plant from 

 February to April. 



Calceolarias (Herbaceous). 

 These are coming rapidly into favor 

 as window or house plants. For a 

 cool conservatory they are gorgeous 

 and are good sellers. These together 

 with the shrubbery calceolarias, are 

 among the commonest window plants 



in England. Seed of herbaceous cal- 

 ceolarias should be sown during June 

 or July. Season of flowering, March 

 and April. 



Schizanthus (Butterfly Flower), 

 Mignonette, Snapdragon and Calen- 

 dula (Pot Marigold) come in useful 

 for early spring sales if seed is started 

 end of July or during August. 

 Pansies. 

 For early spring sales seeds of 

 these should be sown toward the 

 end of August in a cold frame, or 

 flats out of doors. In warmer sec- 

 tions they winter over very well in 

 a cold frame with care. The plants 

 are usually sold in plant boxes six to 

 twelve plants in a two-quart box. 

 Grown well from a good strain they 

 sell well in early spring with only one 

 or two blooms developed. Seed sown 

 in February or early March will furn- 

 ish nice plants for spring planting for 

 summer and fall flowering in borders. 

 Begonias. 

 The semperflorens (Erfordii) type is 

 probably the best money-maker for 

 the florist and most satisfactory for 

 the flower buyer. Seed sown in Janu- 

 ary or February will furnish an un- 

 limited supply of plants for summer 

 bedding, while seed sown later in May 

 or June will give a good supply or 

 plants for winter and early spring 

 sales if properly handled. Sow seed 

 of the tuberous rooted type in Febru- 

 ary or March, and start old tubers 

 March or April. 



Gloxinias. 



These require much of the same 

 treatment and care as the tnberous 

 rooted begonias, but are not as pro- 

 fitable as many of the kinds before 

 mentioned. They make a gorgeous 

 display when well grown. 



In addition to the kinds mentioned, 

 fancy pelargoniums, chrysanthemums, 

 fuchsias, geraniums, lilies, Dutch 

 bulbs and many others might be 

 named. Those mentioned are among 

 the most prominent pot plants suited 

 for the ordinary florists* trade. Car- 

 nations and roses can scarcely be 

 classed as suitable for pot plants, be- 

 ing more useful for cut flower pur- 

 poses. For spring sales in plant boxes 

 or flats, or singly in pots for spring 

 and summer bedding, snapdragons, 

 pentstemons, ageratum. salvia, cen- 

 taureas, golden feather, as well as 

 main- annuals such as asters, phlox 

 drummondii. ten week stock, schizan- 

 thus, zinnia and other annuals should 

 be sown in March or early April. 



— Canadian Florist. 



TIMELY GREENHOUSE NOTES. 

 Take cuttings now for next year's 

 geraniums. This will give the plants 

 time to make up another good batch 

 in September. Trim the cuttings up 

 well, and cut below a leaf joint. Place 

 l In-ill in sand, soak well with water 

 and break only the direct rays of the 

 snn from them. Keep slightly on the 

 dry side until they begin to root, as 

 there is less likelihood of their damp- 

 ing off. Give a thorough watering and 

 then wait until they are dry before 

 giving any more. Grow in a light 

 airy house, and by the middle of Octo- 

 ber you will be able to take a cutting 

 from every one. They should be well 

 rooted in about a month, when they 

 should be potted firmly in 2y 2 inch 

 pots, using good loam. 



The carnation houses should be re- 

 filled without delay. Most growers 

 are engaged just now in replanting 

 their houses or at least in refilling the 

 benches preparatory to replanting. It 

 is much better to let the plant draw 

 its first moisture from the new soil 

 rather than to saturate it before plant- 

 ing. Do not dip the roots in water if 

 the carnation field is near the house, 

 but get them planted as soon as pos- 

 sible. It is probably better to dip 

 them, however, if they have to be out 

 of the soil for four or five hours. 



From the time the chrysanthemum 

 buds make their appearance until they 

 begin to show color, the plants need 

 feeding from time to time. A pru- 

 dent use of liquid manure will make 

 a decided difference in the size and 

 color of the flowers, also producing 

 the dark green foliage and heavy 

 stems which go with the ideal flower. 

 When the stock is in good condition 

 liquid manure may be made by plac- 

 ing half a bushel of cow manure in a 

 barrel with 45 to 48 gallons of water. 

 If sheep manure is used, half the 

 quantity will be sufficient. There is 

 no better stimulant than liquid cow 

 or sheep manure. Let it stand a few 

 days before using. It is best to start 

 with one application a week, increas- 

 ing to two or even three. 



Pansies for outdoor blooming next 

 spring, English daisies and forget-me- 

 nots may be sown now. They can be 

 sown in a frame, the top surface be- 

 ing made light by the addition of 

 some leaf mold and sand. One of the 

 best forget-me-nots for early bloom- 

 ing is Myosotis dissitiflora, and it will 

 also pay to have at least a few Giant 

 Flowering Bellis. When large enough 

 to handle, transplant the little ones to 

 about four inches apart, and let them 

 remain that way without much pro- 

 tection through the winter. 



