August 9, 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



123 



TIMELY GREENHOUSE NOTES. 



Primulas should be sown now for 

 blooming between the end of February 

 and Easter. Seven months are re- 

 quired from the date of sowing pri- 

 mulas until the time of their bloom- 

 ing. For sowing, shallow boxes or 

 seed pans should be used, these boxes 

 being filled not quite full with a mix- 

 ture of light loam, leaf mold and sand. 

 If the seeds are soaked in water for 

 a day and night more even germina- 

 tion will be obtained. It is ol vital 

 importance that the seed should be 

 fresh. The young seedlings will be 

 ready for pricking cut in five or six 

 weeks from the time of planting. In- 

 stead of pots use flat boxes or seed 

 pans filled with a mixture of one part 

 common soil and two parts of peat. 

 Pot the young plants rather loosely 

 when they have made three or four 

 leaves, using small pots, and do not 

 set them too deep. Place these primu- 

 las in a frame where they can have 

 plenty of air. 



When rose plants begin growing, 

 and the roots start working in the 

 soil, an increased area must lie watered 

 so that the plants will not suffer. The 

 new roots will be very tender and will 

 die if they come in contact with hot 

 dry soil, and this must not happen as 

 it is very important to keep the plants 

 growing all the time. Scratch the 

 earth away here and there to see how 

 far the roots have penetrated into the 

 new soil and try to keep the soil wet 

 just half an inch beyond this circle. 

 Sometimes during these hot summer 

 days the plants become quite dry, in 

 which case care must be taken not to 

 wet the foliage when watering, as 

 burning is likely to result. The grow- 

 er is always on the safe side if he 

 trains all men to water without wet- 

 ting any leaves at all, no matter what 

 the weather may be. This work is as 

 important as any other in rose grow- 

 ing, and should be done neatly and 

 well, avoiding the splashing of water 

 all over the place. 



It is possible to have sweet peas do 

 fairly well through the early winter 

 now, as they have been so greatly im- 

 proved. Select the best varieties in 

 white, pink, lavender and scarlet. To 

 do their best they should be in a bouse 

 by themselves, and at least six feet of 

 headroom is needed. Allow four feet 

 between the rows and do not sow too 

 thick. Sods piled up last fall make a 

 very good soil to use. To every three 

 loads of soil add one load of well 

 rotted cow manure and a pailful of 

 bone dust. Syringe the plants on all 

 bright days and give an even amount 

 of moisture at the roots. 



Do not let the work of repairing the 

 houses, boilers, piping and glass drag 



Florists' Baskets, 



Ribbons and 



Supplies 



Our exhibit :it tbe conven- 

 tion will give you a fa.int 

 idea of our up- 1<> date Hue in 

 Ribbons, Baskets, etc., ami 

 we will be pleased i" bave 

 you looh us over. Most of 

 the Bam plea shown are our 

 own exclusive designs, evolved 

 from many years' experience 

 in the Florist business. 

 We know what the trade requires, and keep right up to the minute — besides 

 even looking a little ahead into the future, ;ill the time. 



S. S. PENNOCK COMPANY 



ft-- Wholesale 

 1 HC Florists of 



Philadelphia 



NEW YORK 



117 W. 28th St. 



PHILADELPHIA 



I <iiix- 1 <;■:<» i. mil,, u St. 



BALTIMORE 



Franklin & St. Paul Sis 



WASHINGTON. 1216 H St., N. W. 



along until cold weather sets in. Now 

 is the time when it should be attended 

 to. Where the putty is in bad condi- 

 tion, it is sometimes best to lift out 

 the glass and to reset it after repair- 

 ing and repainting the sash bars. 

 Good stock cannot be produced in 

 draughty or leaky houses, and repairs 

 should be made while the wood is dry 

 and the weather such that a few 

 hours' exposure to the open air will 

 not affect the plants. Ventilators, 

 boilers and machinery should all be 

 put in good working order. 



Callas should be started now for 

 early winter flowering. Remove all 

 old soil and pot in 6 or 7-inch pots. 

 Use three parts fibrous loam to one 

 part well decayed cow manure, and 

 provide good drainage. Put in a cold 

 frame until the first week in Septem- 

 ber. Discard all which are soft and 

 flabby or show spots of moldy decay, 

 as well as those which have started a 

 thin, spindly growth. Many growers 

 use only fresh roots each year, as 

 they are not expensive. Care should 

 be taken not to overwater at this 

 stage, as they make roots slowly. 



The Annual Meeting of 

 the Florists' Hail Associa- 

 tion of America will be 

 held in Arcadia Audito- 

 rium, Detroit, Michigan, 

 at 9 A. M. on Wednesday, 

 the 20th day of August, 

 1919. 



John G. Esler, Sec. 



IRIS 



Special Offer of 

 Surplus Stock 



While they last we will sell a 

 selected list of Iris at a discount 

 of 80% from retail catalogue 

 prices. 



The special list includes such 

 choice varieties as Albert Victor, 

 Celeste, Dalmarius, Doctor 

 Bernice, Frederick, Iris King, 

 Lohengrin, Mine. Chereau, Mrs. 

 H. Darwin, Pallida Dalmatiea, 

 Princess Victoria Louise, Queen 

 of May, Phein Nixe, Walhalla. 

 Wyomissing and others 



Not less than 20 of one variety 

 at this price. No order accepted 

 for less than 100. 



A rare opportunity for dealers 

 to improve their stock Send 

 for surplus list and order early. 



Movilla Gardens 



HAVERFORD, PENNA. 



NEXT WEEK! 



Convention Number 



Forms Close Wednesday Night 

 Don't Miss It! 



