August 3, 1915 



II R T 1 C U L T U E ]•: 



141 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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pi.i^A/iA^^ 



Questions by our readers In line with any of tbe 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. 



Aspidistras 



Xow is a good time to increase stocic of tlii.< mo.^t use- 

 ful decorative plant. AVliere you have a number of 

 large plants you can divide them into pieces large enough 

 to fill a four-inch pot. Do not break them up too small 

 as it takes a much longer time for them to grow into sale- 

 able plants. Be sure that they are sufficiently drained to 

 let the water pass off freely and use a good compost, say 

 to three parts of fibrous loam use one of well decaj'ed 

 manure, and press the soil firmly about the roots. Place 

 them on a bench where they can have plenty of shade 

 until tlicy start to make new roots, when they should be 

 given more light. It is necessary to lie careful about the 

 v.-ater at the start ; they should be kept moist, but not in 

 a saturated condition. Keep them gi'owing right along 

 through the winter, giving them a temperature of from 

 GO to 65 degrees at night. 



Calanthes 



These orchids are now in the season of active growth 

 and will be maldng lots of roots. This will call for the 

 administering of nourishment. There is nothing better 

 than liquid made from cow manure, given quite weak at 

 fir.st and then a little stronger. These applications made 

 twice a week will be found very beneficial and can be 

 kept up until the flowers commence to expand when they 

 should cease. Calanthes should have a more heavily 

 shaded house than where cattleyas are grown, as the foli- 

 age should always have a deep green color if they are 

 expected to do well. During hot and bright days they 

 will do better if they are given a spraying overhead 

 morning and afternoon, but when the weather is dull 

 omit all spraying. Close up the house early enough to 

 retain a good amount of solar heat to create a super- 

 abundance of atmospheric moisture, which is to their 

 liking. When the nights get cool and the temperature 

 falls below 63 degrees in the house, it is always a good 

 plan to rnn a little heat in the pipes sufficient to keep 

 the house at from 60 to 65 degrees at night. Wliere 

 Calanthes show a nunil)er of roots I'unning over the sur- 

 face of the pans, they can have a mulch of very old cow 

 manure spread on. 



Compost for Bjibs 



All kinds of bulbs will be arriving from now on. 

 Many grower* think any old soil will do for bulbs, 

 liut this is all mmsense as they like a good soil as well as 

 any otlier plants. Get a good lot of fibrous loam' to- 

 gether, and mix at the rate of three loads of loam to 

 one of well decayed manure. Turn over three or four 

 times in order that the manure may be evenly incor- 

 ]>orated through the soil. Where the soil is heavy a lit- 

 tle sand can be added to render it sufficiently porous to 

 allow the free passage of air and water. 



Mr. FarreU's next notes will be on the foUowiug: Care of Oiirdeni, 



ei'iug; Ferns foi' M;il;ing Up 



Planting Sweet Peas for Winter 



Where 30U \\ant an early indoor crop you should sow 

 now. These will grow into fine strong vines by Decem- 

 l)er which should begin to flower around the holidays. 

 If you have a house where you can give them a solid bed, 

 by all means give them this place, as they always give 

 lietter results when so grown but where you have not 

 solid l3eds do not hesitate to plant them on raised benches 

 as they can be flowered very successfully in eight or ten 

 inches of soil. See that the soil is liberally enriched 

 with good manure, cow manure preferred. Two parts 

 of fibrous loam to one part of cow manure with a good 

 sprinkling of bone meal will be about right for a com- 

 post. The rows should run lengthwise of the house and 

 can be anywhere from three to four feet apart. When 

 sowing the seed do not sow too thick. They always do 

 better when they stand from 3 to 4 inches apart in the 

 rows. It is a good ]3lan when you are sowing in the 

 benches to sow a couple of hundred 3-iuch pots with 

 about three seeds to a pot. These will fill in any blanks 

 that may occur in the rows. When they come up string 

 as soon as possible so as to give them support. Give 

 plenty of ventilation and syringe on all bright days. 



Lilies for Easter 



Every grower should make it a point to get in a batch 

 of the early arrivals of the Bermuda lilies as soon as 

 possible, so that lie will be cutting from Decemlier until 

 the middle of January. Just as soon as they are re- 

 ceived they should be potted up into 5 or 6-iueh pots. 

 In order to prevent stagnant water remaining at the 

 roots always give proper drainage of crocks in every pot. 

 A^Tien placing the bulbs have them just so the tips show 

 above the surface of the soil. Give these lilies as cool a 

 place as you may ha\'e. There is nothing better than a 

 coldframe that can be protected with sashes during a 

 continued spell of rainy weather. Here they can be 

 covered first with a la3-er of sand and then 4 or 5 inches 

 of soil which will lessen the labor of watering as well as 

 keeping that uniform amount of moisture which is so 

 conducive to root formation. 



Care of Newly-Housed Carnations 



Now is the time when every grower should exercise 

 good care with his plants. Give them a spraying at 

 least three times a day until new root formation has ad- 

 vanced them far enough so you can say they are re-estab- 

 li-hed in their new quarters. Do not wait until the 

 lienches become dust dry before giving them water at the 

 roots, and on the other hand do not keep on watering 

 until they become saturated, as either course is harm- 

 ful. When the plants have become established give them 

 plenty of fresh air both day and night to harden up their 

 growth. 



s ; Cattleya giga.s: Geranium Cuttings; Daisle.s for W nter Plou- 

 Uishes; Roman Hyacinths. 



