July 22, 1916 



flOETICULTUBE 



101 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BS 



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Questions by our readers In line with any 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 HORTICULTURE. 



"If vain our toil, we ouffht to blame the culture, not the boII." — J'ofif. 



Antirrhinums 



Plants that were propagated early and are now in 

 4-inch pots will make a fine crop for the Christmas 

 trade if planted out in a bench now. Use a tolerably 

 rich soil, such as would grow good carnations, and set 

 them twelve inches apart each way. They are some- 

 times planted 8x8 and 10 x 10, but if you want to 

 give the plants justice allow them the wider distance. 

 Be careful not to plant too deeply, and give a good 

 watering around each plant. On hot sunny days light 

 sprayings overhead will prevent wilting and prove bene- 

 ficial. Air the house freely. It will be found that 

 pink is far the best selling color; next to this, white 

 and yellow. The scarlet, crimson and variegated .shades 

 have only a limited number of admirers. Of course, no 

 set minimum temperature can be maintained for a 

 while, but in winter 45 to 48 degrees should not be ex- 

 ceeded at night. 



Beds of Adiantums 



Beds of this fern that have been cut from and are 

 now in a denuded condition will require but very little 

 water until the new frond? begin to show numerously. 

 Give them sufficient shade so they will not burn or lose 

 their color. When you have a fine crop of fronds be 

 very careful during cloudy or chilly weather not to 

 water too much. It is safer to allow the soil to become 

 rather dry and keep the surface well stirred so as not 

 to endanger the crop of fronds. They will be greatly 

 benefited by a mulch of from a half to an inch of two 

 parts of cow manure that is well rotted to one of good 

 loam. The crowns soon work above the surface and 

 require a top dressing after each crop. 



Chrysanthemums 



Give plenty of fresh air day and night with an abund- 

 ance of moisture, maintained by watering the soil, 

 syringing the plants several times daily and by wetting 

 down walks, which induces congenial humidity through- 

 out the house. Keep up a diligent fight against the black 

 aphis. Plants that are destined to figure in the exhibi- 

 tions should have their last shift before the close of 

 this month. A good compost is — to one ordinary 

 cart load of rose soil that contains at least one-third 

 of cow manure add from one-third bushels of pulverized 

 sheep manure, half a bushel of soot and about sixty 

 pounds of fine ground bone, thoroughly mixed. This 

 will produce leaves, stems and flowers full of vigor. In 



potting be very careful to have the drainage perfect 

 for without it you cannot have good growth. 



Orchids 



Phalaenopsis comes from a much warmer part of the 

 globe than cattleyas and enjoys a wann, moist atmos- 

 phere, but air, especially from the bottom, should al- 

 ways be afforded with the temperature over 72 degrees. 

 Avoid dry atmosphere and there will be practical free- 

 dom from the attacks of spider and thrips. _ As these 

 handsome orchids pass out of flower, rebasketing or re- 

 panning will need attention. If they are grown in deep, 

 cylindrical baskets and the wood is much covered with 

 active roots they are sure to be injured. A far better 

 plan is to place the receptacles in larger ones, filling up 

 any intervening space with crock and charcoal and 

 covering the surface with growing sphagnum. These 

 orchids like plenty of moisture, so keep the air charged 

 with plenty of moisture by several dampings down. 

 Rambler Roses 



Copious watering and daily heavy syringing must be 

 given the rambler" roses. We often get our hottest 

 weather at the end of July, and if the tender and un- 

 ripened shoots of these roses suffer for water mildew 

 will set in which much weakens the growth and the 

 stren,gth of the eyes which will now be forming. Crim- 

 son Eambler and other ramblers want watchful care 

 just now. That is, those gvovfn in pots under glass dur- 

 Ina' summer. AVe then have canes and eyes that are 

 bound to give a truss of bloom at every eye. By plung- 

 ing the pots in a bench where there is some soil they 

 will retain the moisture better. By the end of August 

 they will have made all the growth desirable and can be 

 stood outdoors to ripen up their wood. See that they 

 have plenty of room so the sun will reach through them. 

 Give a good syringing early in the morning and right 

 after dinner. 



Reminders 



Stake or otherwise support dahlias where necessary. 



Eemove annuals from the herbaceous border as fast 

 as they go out of flower. 



Lift montbretias now so as not to disturb in the fall 

 when they are making their useful roots. 



All flowering shrubs, such as Althea, Deutzia, Exoch- 

 arda. Hydrangea, Spiraea. Vibunium. Weigela, etc., can 

 now be freely propagated from oittiiigs of semi-ripened 

 wood. 



Next Week :— C.iUas ; Care of Gardenias; Cinerarias; French Bulbg; Harrlsli LIUos; KcMiilmh^rs 



OOIMN/EIMTIOIM IMUIVIBER 



HORTICl LTIKES .4XNl.*L S. .V. F. CONVENTION NUMBER WILL BE ISSIED ON .VIGUST 19. 1916. ITS ACCOUNT 

 OF THE HOUSTON PROCKEDINGS WILL RE EAGERLY T.OOKKl) FOR BY TIIOrS.\NDS OF RE.\DERS. 





IN THIS SPECIAL ISSUE WILL COMM.VND THE .VTTENTIOX OF 



