July 1, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



<ONUUCTKD BY 



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stlons by our readers In line with any of the topics preseuted on this pnge will be cordially received and promptly aniweredl 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such commnnlcatlons should Invarlahly be addressed to the office of HOBTICULTUEE. 

 "If vain oar toil, we ouffht to blame the calture, not tbe soil." — Pope. 



Chrysanthemums 



Plants in the late houses shoukl be eueou raged to 

 make all the growth possible now. If any buds appear 

 from now up to September they sliould l)e pinched olT. 

 If mildew is jirevalent use sulphide of potassium — half 

 ounce to a gallon of water and spray over and under the 

 leaves. Plants that were benched during May will be 

 benefited by some sort of nourishment now. Tliis can 

 be supplied in the form of bone meal and about half an 

 inch of some well-rotted cow manure. This will help 

 to keep the beds fi-Qm drying out so often and keep the 

 roots much cooler. It is necessary during this hot 

 weather to give copious and frequent syringings to keep 

 the temperature down as much as possible. Keep moist 

 at the roots liy watering when and where it may seem 

 necessary. Keep' gi-een and black fly in check In- light 

 fumigation every 10 days, or oftener if necessary. Give 

 plenty of ventilation. 



Crotons 



Crotons appreciate watering with liquid manure when 

 well established in pots and in active growth, Init heavy 

 doses must be avoided. Damping down will now Ix' 

 necessary, morning, noon and night, and the jdaiils 

 should be examined each day and watered only if they 

 need it, for even whilst growing they should not get in a 

 saturated condition. Crotons sliould not be shaded too 

 heavily or the naturally brilliant coloring of the leaves 

 will become more somber. Frequent syringing benefiis 

 the plants and keep such insect pests as mealy tiug, red 

 spider and scale in check. Crotons, or codiaeums, as 

 the botanists prefer to call them, succeed best in a warm, 

 moist greenhouse. Propagation is easy. It can .be 

 done by syringing and mossing the tops, which if kept 

 constantly moist will soon root. 



Orchids 



Cattleyas that are in active growth will reipiire an 

 abundance of water at the roots with a light syringing 

 overhead two or three times a day. Dami> the floo'-s 

 and benches well twice a day so as to create a humid 

 atmosphere. All cattleyas that have completed their 

 growth should be placed at the coolest end of the house 

 or where they can be given a fair amount of air. The 

 quantity of water should be lessened until only enough 



N'pxt Week; — Aoritles: Tlnlh C'.nnposr ; <'hr.\s;nirlit'iiMiiiis ; I- 



is given to keep the plants from shriveling. Later you 

 can give them more airy, cool, dry and sunny quarters, 

 which will induce them to ripen up their growth. Very 

 little water will be needed at the roots during this rest,. 

 but give a gentle syringing over the plants on bright 

 days, which will help to keep the growths in good con- 

 dition. All other orchids of the many species that will 

 now be finishing up their growth should lie removed to 

 a cooler house that is very lightly shaded so as to pre- 

 ■\-ent a second growth. 



Raising Perennials 



Plants from seeds sown now and transplanted when 

 large enough into the border this fall and given some 

 care as to watering \\ill get well enough established to 

 stand the winter. The seed should be sown in frames 

 where it will be convenient to water them. Any good 

 light soil that has been made fine will be suitable. Keep 

 shaded and moist until they have started. AAHien the 

 seedhngs are large enough to handle jirick them out 

 and keep shaded for a few days in order to give them 

 n start. They can be transplanted again into cold 

 frames where they can stay during winter and have 

 slight ])rotection in severe weather and from the bright 

 sunsliine. 



Preparing Compost for Carnations 



All good growers know that without a congenial com- 

 post from whicli to draw the necessary food supply, re- 

 turns frtmi the plants will be veiy unsatisfactory. In 

 reality there is no dull season for the carnation grower, 

 tor there is always sonicthing to be looked after. Sod 

 that was piled up last fall and mixed with manure at 

 the rate of three of soil to one of manure will not re- 

 ijuire anvthing else outside of a good turning ovei-. _A1- 

 wavs keep the field clear of weeds and it will be time 

 well invested. Do not allow the compost to be over- 

 grown with rank weeds wliich will soon draw much of 

 the plant food that your larnations slididd enjoy. 



Stock Plants 



Take U'ood care of all sioi-k plants. Do imt let tlicm 

 i:et overgrown witli weeds, but go ovci- tbcui once every 

 ten days with the cultivator and weed uiiere necessary. 

 See that tliere is a durable label to each variety if 3'ou 

 want tbcni true to name for ]ii'opagation later on. 

 ucharls! .nmazanlca; Smllax; Time to Think of Chri.stmns. 



INDEX TO VOLUME XXIII 



Tho.se of our subscribers who bind their volumes of Horticulture, or who for any other 

 reason may wish to have the index to the contents of Vol. XXIII — January 1 to June 30, 

 19 16- will be supplied on application. THEY ARE NOW READY. 



