November 2, 1912 



llOKTICULTUKE 



597 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



rONDCCTBD BY 



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Questions by our readers in line with any of the topics presented ou this pnge will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



American Beauty Roses for Easter 



Roses that have been grown all summer in the field, if 

 intended for forcing for Easter, should now be lifted. 

 For a compost use any good rose soil and give them 

 either 6, 7 or 8-inch pots, according to their size. Do 

 not overlook giving them anrple drainage with plenty of 

 crocks in each pot. When potting see that you get the 

 compost well in and around the roots and firm the soil 

 well. To make them easier to handle you can prune 

 them down to about a foot and a half. They should not 

 be pruned too hard immediately after lifting; this can 

 be done before you start them up. It is well to place 

 these roses in a cool house for about two weeks and give 

 tliem a syringe now and again, but do not encourage any 

 growth. After this time they can be placed in a deep 

 cold frame. While tliey are in the coldframe see that 

 they are kept moist at the roots ; if this is not done they 

 are very liable to be ruined by the frost. Before hard 

 weather sets in plunge the pots up to the rims and then 

 they can remain here until wanted for forcing. 



Care of Calceolarias 



It will be best to house all your calceolarias now. 

 When they are kept out in a frame too late you have to 

 shut the sashes down so early to retain enough heat to 

 keep frost away that they always make a very soft 

 growth. The tightly closed sashes are bound to create 

 an over moist atmosphere which is very detrimental to 

 this air-loving plant. They will require the coolest 

 house you may have, where they can have at the same 

 time all the sunshine there is. While these plants like 

 plenty of ventilation they should never be subjected to 

 any direct cold drafts. The proper way to ventilate is 

 to start early in the morning to increase the air, as soon 

 as the temperature shows a tendency to rise and until 

 the maximum has been reached. In the afternoon re- 

 duce the same way, leaving a little on all night whenever 

 possible. Fumigate each ■freek which will help to keep 

 the plants clean of fly. 



Dahlias 



When the blooms have been touched by a few frosts 

 it is time to lift the roots. They never winter fo well 

 when left to be entirely cut down by hard frosts. When 

 digging them up it is always better to leave the clumps 

 in the field for the sun to dry them out. Wlien dry they 

 can be stored away in a cool .dry place. If given a too 

 warm place where there is the least bit of moisture they 

 will soon start into growth. Any place that will keep 

 potatoes good will be right for dahlias. Where you in- 

 tend to get new stock there is no better time than the 

 present to do it, so place your order now with any one 

 of IIorticultdre's advertisers. 



Gardenias 



To have these plants good great care will have to be 

 taken from this out, especially where they are wanted 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will he on the following: Care of Amaryllis: Cattleya Trianae : Gladioli for Forcing: Easter Schizanthus: 



Lllinm gpeclosum ; Stevlas. 



for winter flowering. It is a big mistake to allow the 

 temperature to become so low that the atmosphere has a 

 cold and clammy feeling. The minimum temperature 

 should never be allowed to go below 65 degrees at night. 

 Before ventilating let the thermometer reach 75 degrees 

 and then only give a little air at a time so as not at any 

 time to cause a chill in the air. Start early in the after- 

 noon and reduce the air the same way, and finally 

 flose up early enough so tlie glass will stand at 75 

 degrees or thereabouts. Never let the soil be- 

 come either overwet or at all dust-dry as either 

 condition always paves the way for the loss of buds and 

 gives that sickly looking yellow foliage. Look over the 

 benches every day and water any dry spots, for in water- 

 ing the aim should be to keep all the roots in an even 

 state of moisture at all times. Give a good syringing 

 early in the morning on all clear days and keep the plants 

 nicely tied up. Now that the dark and gloomy weather 

 will soon be with us go slow in feeding these plants. 

 They can have an occasional light mulch from now and 

 up to tlie new year ; after that date the preference can 

 be given to liquid manure. When too much feeding 

 with manure water is done early in the season it is Ka- 

 li] e to cause a wholesale dropping of the buds. 



Growing Sweet Peas 



In growing sweet peas for winter flowering there is 

 nothing gained by trying to hurry them along by a too 

 high temperature. They are cool-blooded subjects and 

 will not respond to any hard forcing. If your plants are 

 to remain in a vigorous growing condition, with strong 

 stems and fine flowers, never let the temperature go over 

 48 degrees at'night. Keep a dry cool atmosphere by giv- 

 ing them plenty of ventilation on all favorable occasions ; 

 this will give you less trouble from their dropping their 

 buds. While the beds will not need watering every day 

 it is well to go over them often to ensure an even amount 

 of moisture at the roots. Keep the leading growths 

 faithfully tied up from time to time ; where this is al- 

 lowed to be neglected for any length of time the stems 

 will become crooked, which impairs their market value. 



Spiraea Japonica 



The roots of spirsea — or astilbe — ^will soon be arriving, 

 so make it your plan to secure them as early as possible. 

 .Any one of the half-dozen or more varieties usually 

 shipped here every fall is worthy of being included in the 

 florists' Easter and spring stock. Where spirsas that 

 have been unpacked show a good ball of firmly matted 

 roots, which is the rule, an immediate potting up will 

 not be necessary. They can be heeled in some frames 

 and a mulch or covering of straw or coarse manure will 

 keep the ground in a condition that will make the re- 

 moval of the clumps from the frame at any time during 

 the mid-winter an easy matter. When wanted they can 

 be potted into 6 or 7-inch pots, using a good rich com- 

 iiost. 



