December 14, 1912 



HORTICULTURE 



809 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



ilW5»«>^, A*^^^ 



Questions liy our readers in line with any "f tlie topirs presented on this page will be tordiallv received and promtply answered 

 \'y Mr. Farrell. Such commuiiicMtii ns shiuld invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Christmas Azaleas 



Azaleas should be out enough in bloom by this date to 

 allow the plants to be hardened off some. It will require 

 at least five or six days in a lower temperature to bring 

 them into anything like proper condition to stand the 

 store or house. To harden them off they should not be 

 kept any warmer than 55 degrees at night and 50 degrees 

 would still be better. Give ventilation whenever pos- 

 sible, but be careful not to admit cold draughts or you 

 will experience trouble in having the flowers wilt. See 

 that these plants are not overlooked as to proper water- 

 ing whenever they need it, and space them far enough 

 apart so the light and air will have a chance to circulate 

 through them. Where they are full out and there are 

 a good many bright days they keep in better shape by 

 having a shady place to stand in. Go over the pots 

 and see that they are clean, bright, and attractive look- 

 ing to the eye. 



Poinsettias 



Christmas is the season for the popular poinsettia and 

 the coming holiday will see an enormous Increase in the 

 number used. Those not yet well developed in their 

 bracts should be given a high temperature of anywhere 

 from 65 to 70 degrees at night, with an increase of from 

 15 to 30 degrees during bright weather. Stock fully de- 

 veloped will be better for having the temperature low- 

 ered to about 55 degrees four or five days before they are 

 wanted as it will help them to harden up into better 

 shape. Poinsettias in pans or pots should neither be 

 overwatered or allowed to become dry at the roots as 

 either extreme will cause the fohage to turn yellow. To 

 have cut poinsettias in perfect condition they should 

 have the ends cauterized by being dipped in boiling 

 water for about twenty seconds — this will prevent their 

 wilting — and then place the stems half way in water. 

 The best temperature to keep the bracts In after they are 

 cut is from 45 to 48 degrees, leaving them here from 12 

 to 18 hours which will put them into fine shape to stand 

 up for holiday use. 



"Made-Up" Plants 



This is a noteworthy feature of the Christmas trade 

 and seen in all conceivable forms and styles of combi- 

 nations. Now is the time to get busy on these pleasing 

 arrangements of flowering and foliage plants in pans, 

 baskets, hampers, jardinieres, dishes of fanciful design, 

 and other receptacles of various descriptions. Before 

 commencing see that the stock you are about to use is 

 given a thorough watering or dipping. All these plants 

 are usually firmly root-bound and should never be made 

 up when the least bit dry. When making up lily of the 

 valley, Roman hyacinths or other bulbous stock they 

 should be placed as closely as it is possible to place them, 

 but of course all this work should be done under a guid- 

 ance of sense for beauty, symmetry and pleasing outlines. 

 Well-flowered plants of Begonia de Lorraine, cyclamen, 



primula, etc., that are bushy and well-spread will pro- 

 duce a fine effect when intermixed with some foliage 

 plants of varying kinds. It always pays to strive for 

 light, airy, dainty and graceful effect. 



Floweting Plants for Christmas 



With Christmas only about ten days away much can 

 be accomplished in properly preparing your stock for 

 the occasion. All plants that are a little behind, but 

 justify a hope that they can be brought in on time will 

 stand a week of hard forcing. All such plants as lilies, 

 Roman hyacinths, narcissi, lily of the valley, Lorraine 

 begonias, callas, cyclamen, etc., will stand and willingly 

 respond to extreme measures in forcing in on time. Give 

 all flowering plants that show proper expansion of bloom 

 cooler quarters, not necessarily well-lighted. When 

 treated this way they will finish up into fine shape and 

 will handle better in every respect than if kept in strong 

 heat up to the last. From this out you will need to 

 exercise continued watchfulness. With the increased 

 fire heat and sudden bursts of bright sunshine now and 

 then pot plants will want watering at the roots. Venti- 

 late freely on all suitable occasions, but beware of cold 

 piercing air striking your flowering plants as it will 

 prove a quick despoiler of their beauty. 



Keeping Christmas Greens 



With many florists Christmas greens are a leading 

 feature of the holiday trade. To have wreaths and 

 wreathing ready and in sufficient quantity for Christmas 

 will require some care and management. All Christmas 

 greens, whether made up or not, should not be exposed 

 to severe weather or drying influence. Made-up work 

 or cases should be stored in some cool shed away from 

 either heat or dryness as they soon begin to shrivel if 

 not placed under proper conditions. There is no bet- 

 ter place for wreaths than on the floor of a cool moist cel- 

 lar. They can be made up a week ahead of time and 

 placed upon some papers so as to keep them clean. 

 Where the cellar is not perfectly dark place some papers 

 over the wreaths as light always injures them. For 

 Christmas trees the best place is on the north side of 

 some building where the sun will not strike them. 



Freesias for Easter 



Now is a good time to plant a batch of freesias for 

 Easter. These bulbs like a good rich soil, so give them 

 three parts of fibrous loam to one part of cow or sheep 

 manure. It is a good plan to place from 15 to 18 

 bulbs in a 6-ineh pan. After they are planted they can 

 be placed in a house that runs anywhere from 45 to 

 50 degrees at night. Do not water too heavy until 

 they have become well-rooted, when they will take plenty 

 of it. When they start to come up give a well-lighted 

 bench well up to the glass and a temperature from 50 

 to 55 degrees at night and they should come along in 

 good shape for Easter. 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Azalea Mollis: Dutch Hyacinths; Dendrobiums; Lilies for Easter; The Propa- 

 gating Bench ; Petunias, 



