November 11, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



629 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



COMDDOTKD BT 



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Qoeation* by oor readera In line wltb «n7 of the topic* presented on tiU page will be cordUIlT received and Dromotlr aaiwered 



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"U nOa mmr toil, «• •nsbt to MaaM th* ealta>% ■•! the eeil."— />o^<. 



Care of Carnations 



Carnations will do well with a night temperature of 

 48 to 55. Tile day temperature should be governed by 

 the weather, not allowing it to rise above 60 degrees on 

 cloudy days or 7'1 on bright days. Nothing will be 

 gained by getting a few extra flowers in winter by run- 

 ning the houses a few degrees higher, as the plants will 

 be sure to suffer. Where carnations are showing plenty 

 of buds they should get some light top dressing. Ex- 

 amine the benches everj^ day for the dry places which 

 should be watered. After the new year, if the plants are 

 -till doing well they will need more food and if available 

 a good lot of rotted stable manure, which also will help 

 to keep the beds from drying out too rjuickly. Liquid 

 manure can be used to advantage about once a week, or 

 tup dressing can again be resorted to, using dried blood 

 or sheep manure or shredded cattle manure in heavier 

 doses. 



Violets 



Violets are air-loving plants, so see that they have 

 ]ilenty of ventilation. The spraying overhead should not 

 take the form of very heavy spraying now. and from now 

 on should only be done during forenoon. Damping down 

 the houses and wetting down of walks and dampening 

 of approaches should be done only on sunny days. I 

 suppose that everybody who planted a house of violets 

 last spring for the coming season has been painstaking 

 and thorougli in the care of same. However, do not 

 think that they are in such good shape that you can af- 

 ford to neglect them. Look over and throughly clean 

 every crown to make sure that no insects or black spot 

 on leaves are carried througli the house and look out 

 closely that no apliis of any kind gets a foothold. Vio- 

 lets like to be moist at the roots at all times, bilt they 

 will not stand anything like a soaked soil all the time. 



Orchids 



With all orchids now in their winter quarters, some 

 time must be given to cleaning them, and any spare 

 moments are well spent in this way. Temperatures 

 should now be lowered. Few orchid.s want a close, stuffy 

 atmosphere, so ventilation should be given at all times 

 when possible in greater or less quantity, according to 

 the outside conditions. Watering should now be done 

 early in the morning and the amount of damping down 

 of the floors will, of course,- depend on the weather and 

 the amount of fire heat being used. Most orchids will 

 stand full sun now, so let them have it. During sunless 

 weather water should be given with caution. 



Next Week: — C.nre of Fuclisuis: DatTodlls for Early Forcing; 



Spiraea japonica ' 



Unpack the clumjjs at once when received, as they are 

 sometimes found to be in a very dry state. Soak them 

 well after unpacking and leave them outside to freeze 

 before you pot them. They can be stored in any frames, 

 putting a little earth between the roots and some over 

 the crowns. Let them have the benefit of rain or 

 snow, as it does them good. The imported roots of 

 s})iraea or astilbes will soon be here. It takes from 

 ten to fourteen weeks to flower them. Astilbe compacta 

 and Gladstone are popular forcing varieties. When 

 wanted they can be potted into sLs or seven inch pots, and 

 stood under a bench for the first three' weeks, after which 

 they can be given a place on the bench in from 55 to 

 (iO degrees at night. 



Sweet Peas 



P'ire heat is now a necessity, but the plants must have 

 full ventilation. Avoid, however, cold draughts, which 

 may result in an attack of mildew. The night tempera- 

 ture for flowering peas should be kept about 50 degrees 

 and a couple of degrees lower is better as winter pro- 

 gresses. Sweet peas that were planted the end of July 

 will soon be coming into flower. ^Vhile the demand for 

 sweet peas is not especially vigorous until after the 

 clirysanthemum season has passed, there are custi>mers 

 who want them earlier. Go over the benches carefully 

 before watering, and if the soil is in need of water give 

 it good and plenty. On the other band, dont water soil 

 which is not really in need of it. An overw.'itering once 

 in a while might not show bad effects, but a continuation 

 of it will ruin the constitution of the stock in a few 

 days. Look over the early plants every five or six days 

 and give them necessaiy ties. Syringe on all good days 

 early in the morning so as to keep red spider dovm. 



Reminders 



Syringe bouvardias regularly on all good days, and 

 should green flv ajijiear give several light fumigations 

 until they disappear. 



Mignonette is easily injured by over-watering, cither 

 in pots or. on benches, so do not be careless about this. 



Increase the water supply to callas as the root and top 

 growth extends. 



Place crotons where they will get all the liglit and 

 sun possil)le. as it helps to give them better coloring. 



Watch feeding with licpiid manure in all departments. 

 When ])0ssible give it only on clear days. 



Forcing Ixlas; .T.ipnn I.illcs: rropacntinjr Croton?: Remlnderd. 



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