November 9, 1912 



HORTICULTURE 



629 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



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Questions by our readers in line with any of the topics presented on this page will be coralally received and promptly answered 

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



Gate of Amatyllis 



Bulbs that are being given a rest should have the 

 vi'ater withheld gradually until they are thoroughly 

 ripened up. Do not hurry them by a rapid process of 

 ripening, because it will only result in injury to the 

 bulbs. It will not be necessary for them to lose all their 

 foliage during this resting period, as vigoi-ous bulbs will 

 retain some of their leaves until they begin to start 

 up again. When the bulk of their foliage has gone you 

 should lay the pots on their sides in a nice dry place 

 where the temperature will not fall below 50 degrees, 

 which will give them their needed rest and also keep the 

 original ball from becoming sour. In order to have 

 fine flowers they should not be started before the first of 

 January. Where you have a batch that has had a good 

 season of rest and are now showing spikes, these can be 

 given a bench well up to the glass in a house where the 

 temperature runs from 60 to 65 degrees at night with 

 a rise of from 10 to 15 degrees on sunny days! Wlien 

 they have made some top growth they can be given some 

 liquid manure once a week. 



Cattleya Trianae 



Some species of cattleyas may have more showy 

 flowers, but when it comes to furnishing through Jan- 

 uary, February and March your winter flowers of Cat- 

 tleya Trianae make the pace. It behooves the grower 

 to give them every attention from this out. Keep the 

 night temperature as near 58 to 60 as possible during 

 the next four months and from 70 to 75 on all bright 

 days, but during dull weather 65 degrees will be about 

 right. .These orchids enjoy a location near the glass and 

 all the direct sunlight that is possible from this out, sn 

 do not place them in some dark corner and expect them 

 to do well. Give ventilation with care as they abhor any- 

 thing like a stagnant air ; of course you will have to be 

 guided by the outside condition as to the quantity given. 

 They should be carefully looked over every day and 

 given water as needed, but remember it is better that 

 they show a sign of dryness before giving them any 

 water. Syringe overhead in the mornings of bright days 

 and keep the floors and benches well damped. Look the 

 plants over often and sponge for thrips and scale, as they 

 f-oon accumulate 



Gladioli for Forcing 



Such varieties as Colvillei, The Bride, Peach Blos- 

 som and Blusliing Bride, as soon as they show a couple 

 of inches of top growth, will be all right in a house 

 where tlie temperature is kept about 50 degrees at night 

 and from 10 to 15 degrees higher during the day with 

 sun. Be careful to keep the fiats at an even degree of 

 moisture all the time. They like a syringing on bright 

 mornings so as to allow the foliage to dry before night- 

 fall. When they have made some growth you can apply 

 liquid manure once a week, but discontinue entirely 

 when the spikes begin to show color. Wliere you have 



bench space in chrysanthemum houses you can plant 

 some of the large flowering gladioli such as America, 

 Augusta, Mrs. Francis King, Shakespeare and May; 

 these will all make excellent varieties for forcing. The 

 old chrysanthemum soil can be used, spading it over 

 and planting bulbs about a foot apart each way. Give 

 water, air, and a temperature of from 45 to 50 degrees 

 at night. Gladioli have become quite popular for win- 

 ter decorative use, so it is well to start now and plant 

 (luite a few. 



Easter Schizanthus 



Schizanthus has now become a useful and popular 

 Easter pot plant. Make a sowing now which will give 

 fine strong plants by that date if grown along under 

 proper conditions. Sow the seed in large shallow pans 

 that are well drained. Make a compost of loam, leaf 

 mold and sand, mix well and fill the pans to within an 

 inch of the top and then sift some nice and fine for the 

 top. Add this fine mixture until within half an inch of 

 the top and press the surface smooth. Give the pans a 

 good watering and, when drained, the seed can be sown, 

 not too thickly, over the surface. Cover only slightly, 

 placing a piece of glass over the pans and give them a 

 house where they can have a temperature of about 55 

 degrees at night. The sun should not strike them until 

 tlie seeds begin to germinate, when they will stand all 

 the light and sun that they can get. When large enough 

 pot off into small pots, using a rich soil and keep on 

 shifting until they are in 7 or 8 inch pots, using a richer 

 compost each time. Give water, air, and general atten- 

 tion and keep in a temperature of from 45 to 48 degrees 

 at night. 



Lilium speciosom 



To have some lilies to come in before the outdoor beds 

 begin to flower, by all means pot up a good batch of 

 Lilium speciosum as soon as you can get them, for they 

 will prove very useful in many ways. When potting 

 allow a single bulb to a 6-iuch pot, three bulbs to an 

 8-inch pot, and six bulbs to a 10-inch pot. These two 

 last sizes are the best when growing for cutting. Use a 

 fibrous soil well enriched with old manure, but be very 

 careful not to use any fresh manure as it is liable to 

 produce disease. Give plenty of drainage so the water 

 will pass off freely. When they are potted give them a 

 watering to settle the soil good and afterwards at no 

 lime must they be allowed to become dry at the roots, 

 or overwatered" either; avoid any extremes either way. 

 They can be placed in any dry frostproof cellar or shed 

 or placed outside in a cold frame and covered with 

 about six inches of soil and as the weather becomes se- 

 ^•ere they should be covered with shutters or sash to 

 prevent too hard freezing, as it is liable to break the pots. 

 Look them over from time to time and when you see 

 the growth appearing they should be housed in the cool- 

 est house vou have. 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Asparagus plumosus; Carnations; Begonia Gloire de Lorraine; Evergreens In 



Pots for Christmas; Freesias for Christmas; Paper White Narcissi. 



