November 25, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



693 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTED BY 



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Qaeatloni by onr readara In line with »ny of the topic* preeented on thla cage will be eordUUy recelTed ud promptlT 

 by Mr. Farrell. Sneh commnnlcatlons shonld Inrarfaibly be addreased to the office of HOBTICULTrBE 

 "It Tkio oar toll, we onctit to blame the esltvra, net the lolL" 



-/V/t,, 



Cyclamen 



Keep the house fairly moist by damping down the 

 walks night and morning. Place the plants well up to 

 the glass so they will grow stocky. Do not syringe over 

 head and use the watering pot in lieu of the hose. Look 

 over the watering as early in the day as possible as 

 they should become dry by night. The cyclamen does 

 nicely in a little over 50 or 55 degrrees at night. Addi- 

 tional greenhouse space will soon be at liberty as ehrys- 

 antliemums are cut out. Cyclamen in two or three 

 inch pots will still do in frames for a few weeks, if well 

 looked after and protected on severe nights. Plants 

 that are fairly well pot-bound and in good health will 

 stand liquid once a week from now on. See that the 

 hole in the bottom of the pot is kept clear. 



Flowering Plants for Christmas 



Ventilate freely, but lieware of cold, piercing air 

 striking flowering plants as it will prove a quick despoil- 

 er of their beauty. With the increased fire heat and 

 sudden bursts of bright sunshine now and then pot 

 plants will want liberal watering. Give all that show 

 proper expansion of bloom cooler quarters, not necessari- 

 ly well-lighted. 'Wlien treated this way they will finish 

 up in fine shape and will handle better in every respect 

 than if kept in strong heat up to the last. With 

 Christmas only about 25 or 30 days away much can be ac- 

 complished in properly preparing stock for the occasion. 

 All plants that are a little behind, but justify a hope 

 that they can be brought in on time will stand a week 

 of hard forcing, anywhere from GO to 70 degrees at 

 night according to the kind of plants. So be up and 

 doing, for every day cotints now. 



Hybrid Perpetual Roses for Easter 



If you have not grown youi' own stock in pots all 

 summer — which is the best — go to some near-by nursery- 

 men and get a supply without delay. Well-grown hybrid 

 perpetuals in pots will attract many buyers for this 

 spring holiday and now is the time to begin on this line. 

 When potting them use from a 7 up to a 10-inch pot, 

 according to the size of the plants. Use any good rose 

 soil and give each pot good drainage, for later on they 

 will require plenty of water at the roots. Pot quite 

 firmly so that every root will be compactly surmuuded 

 with soil. They can then be put in a deep frame and 

 enough strawy manure put over them to keep the frost 

 from breaking the pots until it is time to bring them in 

 for forcing. 



Poinsettias 



I'oiiisettias in pans m puts .should neither be over- 

 watered nor allowed to become dry at the roots, as either 

 extreme will cause the foliage to turn yellow. Stock 

 fully developed will be better for having the tempera- 

 ture lowered to about 55 degrees four or five days before 

 they are wanted, as it will help them to harden up. 

 'I'hosc not yet well developed in their bracts should be 

 given anywhere from 65 to 70 degrees at night with an 

 increase of from 15 to 20 degrees during bright weather. 

 To have cut poinsettias in perfect condition they should 

 have the ends cauterized by being dipped in boiling 

 water for about twenty seconds, which will prevent 

 their wilting, and the stems then immersed half way in 

 water. Tlie best temperature to keep the bracts in after 

 they are cut is from 45 to 48 degrees, leaving them 

 here from 12 to 18 hours which will pnt them into fine 

 shape to stand up for the holiday use. 



Tulips and Von Sions 



It lia])pens often that a portion of the main crop of 

 tiiese bulbs intended for spring trade, is neglected until 

 too late, for lack of time or other reasons. Main crops 

 of narcissi, hyacinths and tulips sliould be planted now 

 without delay. It is well to have tiiese bulbs outside 

 until about the middle of December, when they can be 

 brought in and stored under a bench in a house of 50 to 

 55 degrees. The necessary conditi(m to force tulips from 

 December until March is some place where they can 

 have a strong top heat, with only a mild heat at the 

 roots. Two or three times daily spraying will be neces- 

 sary for the earliest ones. Eighty to eighty-five will not 

 be any too high a temperature when the sun shines. See 

 that they are kept moist at the roots at all times. If 

 you want to keep the flowers for some time before they 

 open place in a shaded and cool place. 



Reminders 



Now is the time to snw canna seeds. Give them a 

 thorough soaking and'chip lightly before soaking. 



Plant antirrhinums as the chrysanthemums are 

 cleared awav. Sweet peas can also be y)lanted for a suc- 

 cessional crop. 



Put gladiolus Colvillci. and any of the nanus section 

 in flats as soon as bulbs are received. 



Sow cyclamen again for succession ; obtain the best 

 strain, as it does not pay to grow poor seed. 



Next week: HoUdny Suppestlons : LUlo? for Christmas; LlUum .spcclosnm : Lorraine BeBKnins; Rhododendrons for Forcinf: 



Reminders. 



