August 17, 1912 



H H T I C U L T U R E 



205 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



roNnrcTicn by 



hf- 



P^.^Oy^xO/ 



Questions bj onr readers In line witb any nf tbe tuples presented on thli page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such commnnloatlons sbould Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULT0RB. 



Care of Palms 



Palms of an advanced age and size tliat are excessively 

 root-bound should nov*' have a repotting. The weather 

 being warm you can overhaul and repot them outside at 

 your pleasure. Wiile palms do well in almost any soil, 

 they always do better when given a rather stiflE yellow 

 loam as the basis of their compost. When repotting 

 large ])alms make your compost rich, say to three of 

 chopped sod use one of well decayed manure and about 

 a five-inch pot of bone meal to every barrow load of 

 soil. Give this compost a thorough turning over so it 

 will be well mixed. Keep your palms clean by examin- 

 ing them every ten days and when needed giving a 

 thorough cleaning to prevent insects from gaining a 

 foothold. To keep palms from becoming too soft and 

 flabby give abundance of ventilation on all possible oc- 

 casions. As the sun begins to lose power don't keep 

 your glass too densely shaded, as this always gives an 

 overplus of stagnant humidity. 



Chf ysant hemums 



It has been proven by experience that buds taken 

 about or after August 20th will always produce a satis- 

 factory flower. Every good grower should use a note- 

 book when handling any new varieties, in which he can 

 make a record of details that will be of value for an- 

 other season. For the best exhibition varieties and a 

 great many of the best commercial kinds the taking of 

 the bud should not be earlier than the above date. Keep 

 your plants in proper shape by judicious tying as they 

 may need it. It is very important now to keep your 

 plants clean and free from the aphis. There is nothing 

 better than a weekly spraying of "Apliine." Used ac- 

 cording to directions it will keep your stock entirely free 

 of these insects. Give plenty of ventilation both day 

 and night so that your atmosphere will not become too 

 close or humid. Wliere you want short-jointed and 

 sturdy growth give abundant ventilation. Keep the beds 

 clean by frequent stirrings of the surface and extra at- 

 tention to watering. 



Cfotons 



Where you have a nice liatch of these highly orna- 

 mental subjects be very careful about ventilation from 

 this out. It is always better to reduce the air gradually 

 in the afternoon and shait the house up early enough to 

 bottle up a good amount of solar heat. This will also 

 help atmospheric conditions by giving that degree of 

 humidity to the atmosphere which is essential to this 

 class of plants in order to induce a strong quick growtii. 

 To grow crotons at their best they should never be al- 

 lowed to go below 70 degrees at night as they are very 

 . tropical in their ways. They should always be given the 

 fullest light, only enough shade being allowed so that 



Mr. FsrreU's next notes will be on the following : Cyclamen for 

 I agation : Potti 



the foliage will not become scorched, as there is nothing 

 that will so bring out the rich markings of the leaves as 

 plenty of light. Keep them well syringed twice a day 

 so that thrips and red spider will not do irreparable dam- 

 age. Where crotons are filling their pots well with roots 

 they will enjoy weak doses of liquid manure once a week. 



Preparing Gimpost for Winter 



The growing of cut flowers and plants under glass for 

 the market is one of the most difficult of all horticul- 

 tural operations. All good growers will tell you that 

 more failures can be ascribed to the using of an uncon- 

 genial soil than to any other single cause. So it be- 

 hooves every grower to prepare a good amount of com- 

 post for winter use. Sod that was dug during the late 

 fall of last year will make excellent soil to use as a 

 foundation. Make your compost rich in available plant 

 food by at least one-third of well-rotted manure which 

 has not been allowed to leach. This can be built up in 

 a square pile three or four feet high, after it has been 

 thoroughly mixed by shoveling the mixture four or five 

 times over. This will put it in a good mechanical con- 

 dition so that all the mineral elements will be evenly 

 mixed. Before the heavy rains come in the fall it can be 

 put under cover for readiness. 



Primulas 



Give all your plants good care from this out. Water- 

 ing and syringing should be carefully attended to every 

 day so that they will not receive any severe check from 

 either too much water or the want of it. These plants 

 like a daily syringing overhead and always keep the 

 material on which the pots stand in a moist state, as a 

 cool bottom is a prime requisite with primulas. Any 

 time within the next two weeks those that are intended 

 for early winter blooming should have their last potting. 

 Use a moderately firm sod that is fairly well decayed, 

 three parts, well-rotted cow manure two parts, leaf mold 

 one part, and enough of clean sand to keep the whole 

 porous. Use five and six-inch pots according to the 

 vigor of the plants. Let your primulas remain outside 

 in a frame until away into October, as the conditions 

 will suit them here better than in a house earlier. Keep 

 them spaced often so a better circulation of air will reach 

 them. 



Paper White Narcissi 



Get a batch of these narcissi in as early as you can 

 so they will have plenty of time to form good roots 

 before they are wanted for forcing. When they are 

 boxed give them a cool bottom in some cold frame, and 

 they can be shaded until top growth begins to show, 

 when they should be exposed to sun and light. It usual- 

 Iv takes from 6 to 7 weeks to make sufficient roots to 

 stand any kind of forcing. Maintain a cool, moist state 

 at the roots by giving them water whenever needed, as 

 this is a very essential point in their culture. 



Next Year; Begonia Lorraine; Lilium eandldum; Orchids: Prop- 

 ng Evergreens, 



