September 23, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



405 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



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by Mr. Farrell. 



'*If vain oar toll* we onfffat to bbune the ealtnre, not the soil." — Fopr. 



Canterbury Bells 



Those wlio planted out a batch last spring in the open 

 border should now lift a good number and pot them 

 using any good rose or carnation soil. Azalea or half- 

 pots are the best to use. These plants possess so many 

 advantages that all florists should grow some. Their 

 culture is simple, requiring only very little handling 

 and care. When lifting and potting field-grown stocks 

 they should be given a semi-shady spot outside for a 

 week or so and after that expose them to the full sun- 

 shine. When severe frosts threaten they can be placed 

 in a deep frame here to remain until wanted for indoor 

 blooming. I prefer constant pot culture for the plants 

 becaiise you will get better and more stocky specimens 

 when they are well established before winter sets in and 

 such stock is always sure to give the best results when 

 grown under glass. Plants that have been grown in 

 the field will give the liiggest plants though they ai-e 

 not necessarily the mo.st floriferous. 



Dutch Bulbs 



Don't leave bulbs lying around for days, but box or 

 pot them up as soon as they arrixe. 'WTieu this has been 

 done give them as much water as the soil will take. 

 This will plump the bulbs up. and put them in the 

 right condition to start and make roots. Store them 

 away in some cold frame or — what is better — -a bulb 

 cellar, and keep dark and moist until they have ad- 

 vanced far enough with root growth. To be successful 

 in forcing these bullis, a good compost is necessary. Any 

 good loam three parts, to one part of dry cow manure, 

 and enough sharp sand to make the compost open will 

 grow good flowers. Where the above mentioned compost 

 is not handy, of course old caraation or rose soil that 

 has some fresh loam and old- manure added to it will 

 answer in a general way. Xow is the time to plan 

 ahead how many of the ditferent kinds of bulbs we 

 shall need. 



Summer Flowering Bulbs 



Many bulbs are lost every year for the want of 

 proper care at the right time. If there is not room in the 

 houses they can be placed in a frame covered with sash 

 and can stay until heavy frost makes it dangerous for 

 them to remain out any longer, when they can be re- 

 moved to a di7 shed, leaving the pots on their sid 

 Place the bulbs in some dry corner of a cool house 

 where they will not be liable to get too much water. 

 Later on shake them out and st<ire in boxes wliere the 

 temperature does not fall below ."lO degrees. Achimeiies, 

 gloxinias, gesneras, tuberous-rooted begonias, etc., as 

 they pass out of flower should have water gradually 

 withheld until they have had time to thoroughly ripen 



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up. Ornamental caladiums will, like most tropicaltiAROf-;- 

 bulbs, like alternate periods of absolute rest. When these 

 are ripened up they can be packed away in sand and 

 kept in a temperature of about 55 degrees. 



Lifting Shrubs for Forcing 



Shmbs potted now will have several weeks in which 

 to form fresh root fibres before the winter comes. Use 

 pots or tubs that will first hold them conveniently. Give 

 them a good, strong compost, say three of fibrous loam 

 and one of manure and give each pot plenty of drain- 

 age. Work the compost well in and around the roots. 

 These should be lifted now as greater success will follow 

 potting now than a month later. When the weather 

 becomes cold in November they can be placed where 

 their pots will not break, but keep as cool as possible. 

 Set them where they can have shade for four or five 

 days, but after that they should be given a place where 

 they can have full sunshine Extra care will have to be 

 exercised in watering as some will dry out more quickly 

 than others. 



Lily Bed 



Replanting should be done at intervals of five oV six 

 years. If left longer the bulbs get smaller and smaller, 

 ultimately dying from starvation. This work should be 

 commenced as soon as their tops dry down. Throw out 

 the soil to the depth of about 8 or 9 inches, replacing it 

 with some well-rotted manure or leaves to the depth of 

 4 inches, after which dig it in with the soil. TlK-n re- 

 ]jlaee the bulbs, setting them from 12 to 15 inches 

 apart. Every florist if he has the ground should have 

 a lily bed. A succession of flowers can be had from 

 June until September. Lilies prefer a light soil as_ a 

 rule, enriched with some very old manure. The prin- 

 cipal requisite is that the soil is well drained. They also 

 like some shelter from the severe winter as well as the 

 midday sun. When planting set the bulbs at least 6 or 

 7 inches deep and from 12 to 15 inches apart. 



Reminders 



Ventilate carnation houses freely on all good days. 



All pot bound palms should be fed from now and 

 up to the end of November. 



Azaleas that are intended for Christmas should be 

 in a house that runs at 55 degrees at night. 



Do not syringe chrysanthemums so often now. 

 Give them a ehajice to harden up. Give plenty of 

 ventilation also. 



In order to work up a good stock of crotons, dra- 

 caenas and other foliage plants keep the warm propa- 

 gating benches filled up and busy. 



Next week— Cjclamens ; Carnations; Lorraine Begonias; Orchids; Peonies; Henilnders. 



