October 12, 1912 



HORTICULTURE 



501 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



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QaesUoQa by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Sneh commnnlcatloDB should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTlCDliTUBB. 



Adiantums 



Give all adiantums that are planted out in a bed for 

 cutting, every attention now. Up to March they will not 

 need any shading, but should have the fullest light. It 

 is much better to give adiantums less heat than used to be 

 considered necessary. Adiantum Farleyense will want a 

 night temperature of 65 degrees, but Adiantum Crow- 

 ianum and cuneatum will do fine in about 55 degrees at 

 night. A higher temperature produces thinner and 

 softer foliage. When watering give them sufficient 

 water to moisten the soil thoroughly and then let them 

 show signs of dryness before watering again. This will 

 help to keep the soil sweet. Give them liquid manure at 

 short intervals through their growing season. 



Araucarias 



Now is the time to stock up with these serviceable and 

 decorative conifers. Araucaria excelsa is the only one 

 of much commercial value to the florist. Place them in 

 a house where they can have a temperature of from 45 to 

 50 degrees at night with about 10 degrees higher during 

 bright days. Give an abundance of air as the condition 

 of the weather will allow, but never to the extent of ad- 

 mitting cold draughts. These plants do not like any- 

 thing like a humid air around them. Root action is now 

 naturally becoming slower, so give attention to watering. 

 They like a moderate amount of water at the roots all 

 the time. Do not crowd these plants for with their 

 spreading branches they require ample room to keep 

 them in proper shape. Where plants are pot-bound they 

 should have some liquid manure once a week in a weak 

 form; this will help to give them a superb color. 



Coreopsis grandiflora 



This makes very fine stock for Memorial Day trade, 

 with its free blooming qualities ; wliether for a pot plant 

 or for cutting it will come in good. So where you have 

 some strong clumps dig them up now and pot in either 

 7, 8 or 10 inch pots. For a compost give them any good 

 rose or carnation soil. Pot firmly and give them a thor- 

 ough watering. They can be placed in a cold frame and 

 protected against hard freezing. Here they can stay 

 until January when they can be taken in from time to 

 time in batches for forcing. 



Crctons 



To keep crotons in good shape they should have a night 

 temperature of not less than 65 degrees, but 70 degrees 

 would be better. Keep them well syringed during all 

 bright days. This is a great help in keeping them clean 



Mr. FarreH'B next notes will be on the following: Azaleas; Care 



Shamrocks for St 



of spider and thrips which often become very trouble- 

 some. These plants always do better when standing over 

 bottom heat so give them such a place when possible. 

 The greatest care is necessary from this out in giving 

 them water at the roots. It is always better to let them 

 become rather dry and then give them a thorough water- 

 ing; in this way you will keep them in vigorous growth. 

 In order to keep up a humid atmosphere water should 

 be abundantly sprayed on the walks and under the 

 benches. Plants should not be overcrowded; this is a 

 great evil with many growers. To intensify their color- 

 ing they should have full sun now, and where the pots 

 are full of roots some weak liquid manure once a week 

 will help them along. 



Geraniums 



Where you want pot-grown geraniums to flower for 

 Christmas discontinue pinching now as it takes about six 

 weeks for the flower trusses to develop properly. Give 

 winter flowering geraniums a bench where they will get 

 all the possible light and sun and remember that they 

 like plenty of fresh air whenever possible. The proper 

 temperature for these plants is a night temperature of 

 about 50 degrees with a rise of about 10 to 15 degrees with 

 sun heat. There is nothing better to use when the pots 

 are filled with roots than Clay's fertilizer applied as a top 

 dressing. You can use from a half to tablespoonful to 

 a 4 or 6 inch pot. It produces a firm shortjointed 

 growth which always makes them floriferous. Where 

 plants are heavily flowered they should have stakes to 

 keep them from becoming overbalanced. Keep on pro- 

 pagating until you have enough of stock for nejrt year. 



Primulas for Christmas 



Every florist will have his hands full trying to get his 

 different crops in right shape for the holidays and one 

 of these is primulas. Keep them in a uniform vigor by 

 giving them a house that is light and airy. They should 

 be placed on a bench where they will be well up to the 

 glass; it will keep them from drawing and better their 

 flowering qualities to a big extent. They should be 

 given a nice equalized temperature of from 48 to 50 

 degrees at night. They will not stand to be pushed by 

 a greater heat without bad results. The frequency that 

 they will require water can only be determined by going 

 over them three or four times a day. See that the plants 

 do not become crowded; go over them often and give a 

 little room where required. They will stand some feed- 

 ing now in weak doses once a week. There is nothing 

 better than cow manure and a little soot; this will give 

 them that dark green foliage one loves to see. 



of Callas: Ericas; Lilies for the Holidays; Pandanus Veltchil; 

 . Patrick's Day. 



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