December 6, 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



483 



FLOWERS UNDER GLASS. 

 There was an interesting and im- 

 portant article last week concern- 

 ing the sowing of fern spores in order 

 to propagate the best of the florists' 

 varieties. It is well to bear in mind 

 that it takes from ten to twelve 

 months to grow most of the commer- 

 cial varieties to a size suitable for sell- 

 ing in pots. I wish also to emphasize 

 the use of sterilized compost, the u~e 

 of which does much to prevent damp- 

 ing off, or at lea^t what passes as that 

 trouble, but which is caused, I under- 

 stand, by a minute fungus. Small 

 growers will get good enough results 

 by baking the soil in the furnace, or 

 even by soaking it with boiling water. 

 Make your compost of loam, leaf mold, 

 peat and sand in equal parts, and give 

 the soli a thorough soaking, and then 

 allow the water to drain off before you 

 put in the spores. 



Probably there were never so many 

 growers handling begonias as this sea- 

 son. These plants are bound to be in 

 heavy demand and should prove 

 profitable. Although such new kinds 

 as Elatior and Optima are proving 

 wonderfully good begonias, the more 

 widely distributed Lorraine will still 

 have a big call this year, although it 

 must be admitted, the difficulty which 

 many amateurs have with the plants 

 which they have bought does not al- 

 ways Increase the reputation of the 

 florist who sells it. In growing this 

 plant it is necessary to think a year 

 ahead, as propagation for next year's 

 stock should have begun now. It Is 

 true that this work can be put off un- 

 til later, but early propagated stock 

 is always the most satisfactory. You 

 can get good results from the well ma- 

 tured leaves of vigorous plants, taking 

 those which are free from spots of any 

 kind. You should trim away the stub- 

 by end of the leaf stalk to a point 

 about half an inch below the leaf and 

 then insert in sand up to the base of 

 the leaf Itself. Be sure that this sand 

 is firmed well. Sunshine must be ex- 

 cluded and light sprinklings should be 

 frequent. You should have rooted 

 stock in about two months. One grow- 

 er advisee covering the little plants 

 with sashes when the house is being 

 ventilated to ward off draughts. 



The Cyclamen is certainly the plant 

 of the hour this season, and probably 

 its popularity will last for many years, 

 as it is one of the most satisfactory of 

 all hou^e plants for holiday sales. It 

 is well to remember, though, that you 

 can't get Cyclamens that will last well 

 or satisfy the customer if they have 



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Grown and sold exclusively by 



WABAN ROSE CONSERVATORIES 



Roses at wholesale; shipped by express anywhere. 



Kinds: Russell, Hadley, Ophelia, Premier, Thayer, Brilliant, Killarney, 

 White Killarney. Contracts given for minimum deliveries daily or weekly, 

 with protection in Holiday Seasons. 



Write or telephone 



Mention this Paper 



BOSTON OFFICE, 15 BEACON STREET 



HAYMARKET 800 



been forced in unusual heat in order to 

 get them ready for Christmas. Good 

 growers like to keep a temperature of 

 about 50 degrees at night. Then there 

 Is a good development of foliage and 

 the flowers are formed naturally. If 

 you must push along the plants a little 

 keep them at a temperature of from 

 55 to 60 at night, and give them full 

 sun close to the glass in the daytime. 

 You will need to water frequently from 

 now until the plants are sold, and it 

 will pay you to sponge the leaves if 

 you find any sign of insect pests. If 

 you can feed the plants moderately 

 with liquid manure, you will be grati- 

 fied at the results, for such feeding 

 stimulates them to throw up their flow- 

 ers in good shape. 



tural work. The course covers as 

 thoroughly as time will permit those 

 aspects of the work which are of es- 

 pecial interest to the commercial flor- 

 ist. Some of the topics considered are 

 greenhouse construction, greenhouse 

 management, and methods used in 

 growing important commercial crops. 

 A portion of the course will also be 

 devoted to a consideration of garden- 

 ing and garden flowers. Special trips 

 are taken to study floricultural estab- 

 lishments in the State. Courses in 

 soils, plant diseases and insect pests 

 accompany the work in floriculture. 



Further information concerning the 

 course may be obtained by writing for 

 an announcement to the Department 

 of Floriculture or the Short Course 

 Office, Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 

 lege, Amherst, Mass. 



WINTER COURSE IN FLORICUL- 

 TURE. 



The Winter Course at the Massachu- 

 setts Agricultural College begins on 

 December 30 and continues for a 

 period of ten weeks. The course 

 offered in floriculture is designed to 

 furnish those who have not the time 

 to devote to a longer course with the 

 theoretical and practical considera- 

 tions essential to success in floricul- 



AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSOCIA 

 CIATION 



At a recent meeting of the American 

 Seed Trade Association In Chicago, It 

 was voted to hold the next convention 

 June 22, 23, 24, 1920, at Milwaukee, 

 Wis. A tentative program was ar- 

 ranged and preliminary plans made 

 for the convention. 



