November 18, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



661 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



COMUCCTKD BT 



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Qaeatloni by onr reader* In line wttb toy of the topic* presented on thin nnge win be cordially recelred and promptly anawerwl 

 by Mr. Farrell. Snch commnntcatlona sLoold Inrarlublj be addreeaed to the office of UOBTICULTUHE. 



"If vain our toll, we ourbt to blasi* the raltore. not thfi soil." 



■ Pope. 



Care of Fuchsias 



Shorten the tops back to linn ripe wood and plucH' 

 tliem wliero they will bo near the glass. This will induce 

 them to make strong cuttings for propagation. Plants 

 which have had a good rest can now be placed in a temper- 

 ature of from 55 to 60 at night, with 10 to 15 degrees on 

 sunny days. Wlicn they have made a growth of two to 

 three inches yon can take off a batch and insert them in 

 a propagating bed with a bottom heat of about 65 degrees 

 iind 10 degrees less top heat. Keep them moist and 

 shaded and they will root in two or three weeks. Syringe 

 on all fine days and keep the atmosphere moderately 

 moist. When potting use either V-h. or 3-inch pots, giv- 

 ing turfy loam three parts, well-rotten mamu'e one 

 part, and leaf mold one part. Keep shaded for a little 

 while until they begin to take hold of the sod when they 

 should be given all the sun and light possible, well up to 

 the glass. 



DaiTodils for Early Forcing 



Give these about 55 degrees at night and in three or 

 four weeks they should have 65 degi'ees. To induce 

 length of stem they should be kept in complete darkness 

 for two or three weeks, but after that they should have 

 the shading removed a little at a time, until they are 

 exposed to full light. If there 'is a batch in ilats well 

 rooted it is not too early to bring them in, so as to flower 

 during Janiiary. The grower who has a cellar that is 

 just clear of frost can utilize it to good advantage for 

 all snch bulbs. Where you liave some room below benches 

 in a cool house you should bring in a good number of 

 flats and place them here. It will save a lot of disagi'ec- 

 able work later on when weather is very cold. See that 

 ihey do not have too much heat from the pipes. Look 

 them over each day so none become dry at the roots. 



Forcing of Ixias 



Don't ever think of hurrying those bulbs along with a 

 high temperature, as they will then prove a failure. 

 The forcing of these bulbs for either decorations or for 

 cut flowers can be made a paying venture. Use either 

 5 or 6-ineh pots or pans for six or eight bulbs. Pro- 

 vide efficient drainage and use a compost of fibrous loam 

 three parts, old manure one part, and leaf mold and 

 sand one part. It is always a good plan to have the com- 

 post moderately moist when planting the bulbs, then 

 no water will be required until they commence to gi-ow. 

 Press the compost firmly about the bulbs and plunge 

 in coal ashes in a frame, whore they can have protection 

 from hard freezing. When they show good signs of ad- 



Japan Lilies 



The bulbs can be left in the frames until about tlie 

 middle of December by which time they should have 

 made plenty of roots, with a little top growth. Tliey 

 can then be brought into a house at about 45 degrees at 

 night and kept there during December. Tliose in- 

 tended for Easter and that are out in a cold frame 

 should be protected from the severe weather and also 

 from any long-continued rain. There is time yet to pot 

 up lilies of the Harrisii type for Easter. Give them 6- 

 inch or T'-inch pots at once It is a good plan to place the 

 bulbs low in the pot as there are numerous roots that 

 start from the base of the flower stems which can later 

 be given a liberal top dressing of good soil. The Japan 

 lilies are always in good demand for Memorial Day. To 

 have them in flower for that day they should be in a 

 cold frame well protected until the middle of January. 

 They can then be removed to a very cool house and 

 carried through with little artificial heat. In order to 

 have a supply on that date it requires more retarding 

 than forcing. 



Propagating Crotons 



Nice young plants mav be had by nialcing incisions 

 in good, shapely shoots. Keep open with toothpicks, 

 bind with sphagnum and keep constantly moist and roots 

 will be emitted in a month or less, when the tops can be 

 cut off and carefully potted. With a little shade and 

 careful handling large and well finished plants in small 

 pots may l)e had in this way. From November to 

 February, when firing is the heaviest and the propagating 

 sand is most likely to be steadily warm is jterliaps the 

 best time for rooting crotons. Half riix-nod wood is 

 the best to use. Water freely. Usually a good damping 

 will be needed daily, in addition to occasional light 

 sprayings. Protect from all sunshine. The best con- 

 dition for successful rooting is when we can maintain a 

 bottom heat of 80 to 85. degrees, with top heat 10 degrei's 

 lower, but they will root in a top heat even 30 degrees 

 lower. Wbcii rooted ])ot in a mixture of soil, leaf mold 

 and sand in equal parts. 



Reminders 



Record the names nf all good chrysanthemums that 

 you would like to try next year. 



Moderate feeding with liquid manure will be of great 

 assistance to cyclamen now throwing up their flowers. 



Move lilies on to a bench as soon as they are nicely 

 above ground. Be careful as to watering until they have 

 filled their pots with roots. • 



Sow candvtuft and sweet alv.ssum on the edges of any 

 vanccmcnt thev should have from 50 to 55 at night beds where there is a chance for them to flower, or give 

 with an increase of ten degrees more with sun heat. a separate piece of bench to tliem in a cool house. 



■... Kist.r: I'liliisittins : Tulips :iiul Von Slon; 



Next Week : — Cyclamen ; 



Flowering Pl.inta for Cbrlstm.TS; Ilybrlil Perpctiinl H- 



Reminders. 



