November 23, 1912 



HORTICULTURE 



705 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



COWBCCTKI) BY 



iU«^^, A«t^^ 



QnestloDi by our readers tn line with any of the 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 HOBTICULTURB. 



Cypripedium insigne 



These orchids will now be showing well developed 

 flower spikes and should be given a rather high bench 

 or a shelf near the glass, so they can have all the light 

 possible. Allow plenty of room between the plants so 

 the air will have a chance to circulate between them. 

 DamjJ down often enough so you will not have a harsh 

 or dry atmosphere, but not to excess as too much atmos- 

 pheric moisture is bound to be injurious to these orchids. 

 The temperature from this out should be held at any- 

 where from 55 to 60 degrees at night with about ten 

 degress higher during the daytime with sunshine. Now 

 that the solar heat is on the decline they will stand full 

 sun without burning. While they like, a liberal supply 

 of water at the roots you should allow the compost to 

 dry out occasionally so as to keep it sweet and give 

 regular ventilation whenever possible. Keep a lookout 

 for thrips and sponge occasionally to keep them in check. 

 You should make it a rule to fumigate once a week. 



Chrysanthemum Stock 



Make it a point to visit some of the big exhibitions 

 and growers of repute and get informed on the best and 

 most valuable commercially in the early, mid-season and 

 late varieties. There is nothing like taking good care 

 of your stock right from the start. Place them in flats 

 or boxes and see that they are accurately labeled. They 

 can be kept in any frost-proof cold frame, or you can 

 give them the coolest house you may have, placing them 

 well up to the light. When you want them, give them 

 a little more heat and they will send up large quantities 

 of thrifty cuttings. Be very careful with watering; 

 they will not need very much until February. From 

 now on they can be kept in a temperature of about 40 

 degrees at night as you do not want them to grow very 

 much. 



Cocos Weddelliana 



This is the palm of all palms for centers for fern 

 dishes and when grown larger tliey become very grace- 

 ful. Look over your stock and if you are short in this 

 line place an order now and get ahead of the rush. 

 These plants should be grown in a house where they 

 can have plenty of atmospheric moisture at all times. 

 To thrive the temperature of the house should run from 

 65 to 70 degrees at night, and in the day time it can 

 run up to 78 or 80 degrees. Considerable care will have 

 to be exercised in watering from this out. They like a 

 nice, even amount of moisture at the roots. When 

 , watering is done without great care the plants will soon 

 ' be showing yellowish foliage, wliich makes them stand 

 almost stationary for weeks, and even if they finally re- 

 sume a vigorous growth they rarely become a profitable 

 plant. Where such accommodation can be given they 

 should have at least a bench for their exclusive occu- 



pancy, and still better a house for themselves. The one 

 imperative thing in giving ventilation is to avoid all 

 cold draughts from striking these palms. 



Filling Boxes and Vases for Winter Effect 



It has been customary for many years, especially in 

 the larger cities, to have boxes filled with something 

 green for the winter months. So now is the time to go 

 around and drum up trade 'in this line, which is bound 

 to become a very profitable side line with most florists. 

 These boxes can be filled with boxwood, aucubas and 

 small conifers, which will make a very attractive show- 

 ing for stores, hotels and clubs. It is a good plan to 

 make up some of these boxes and have them displayed 

 properly so as to catch the public eye. 



Herbaceous Border, Etc 



Now is a good time to give borders a good dressing 

 of manure. The winter rains and snows will drive it 

 down so that when the spring comes they will have 

 something to feed upon. When the ground becomes 

 frozen to a depth of 3 or 4 inches they can be given their 

 winter's protection and there is nothing much better or 

 handier than a protective covering of dry leaves held in 

 place by some sticks or short brush placed here and 

 tliere. All these borders are better for some winter pro- 

 tection, because the loss suffered by florists every year in 

 stock usually styled hardy is enormous. Beds holding lilies 

 of the species auratum, candidum, speciosum, etc., wiU 

 need a surface covering of litter or manure, quite heavily 

 spread. Beds of hardy bulbs such as hyacinths, narcis- 

 sus, tulips, etc., will be benefited by a good layer of ma- 

 nure scattered evenly all over. It is always better to 

 give this protection. 



Lily of the Valley 



In order to have a good batch of lily of the valley 

 for Christmas get your cold storage pips planted any 

 time before the first of December and they will come 

 along all right. They will do well in a mixture of soil 

 and sand and can be planted quite closely together, just 

 having their tops even with the soil and their roots 

 straight down. Place in a house where they can have 

 a bottom heat of from 75 to 80 degrees, while the tem- 

 perature of the house should be carried rather cool, say 

 from 50 to 55 degrees. For the first ten days or two 

 weeks the pips should be very heavily shaded, and then 

 the shade should be gradually removed until they are 

 standing full light. This will impart durability and a 

 better texture to the bells. While forcing lily of the 

 valley it is very important to keep them very moist — it 

 might be said to keep them in a soaked condition all the 

 time. When watering or spraying do it with water that 

 is about 100 degrees of warmth. Give them several 

 sprayings overhead daily until the bells are well formed, 

 when it should cease. Where you want a succession 

 plant about every three weeks during the winter. 



Mr. Parrell's next notes will be on the following: Camellias; Care of Fuchsias; Daffodils for Early Forcing; Forcing Ixias; Hybrid 



Perpetual Roses for Easter; Sowing Candytuft. 



