January 3, 1914 



HORTICULTUEE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



^ 



9>^.^a/IAZ// 



QoMtloni by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page nlll be cordlallf received and promptly answeTcd 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such commDntcatlons sbould invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICDLTDRB. 



parts with a dash of clean sharp sand added. Make pro- 

 vision for ample drainage. Raise them up into full 

 light near the glass, in order to prevent them from be- 

 coming drawn and weak, and keep the atmosphere mod- 

 erately moist. Good judgment must be exercised in 

 ventilation according to the condition of the weather 

 out of doors. On all bright mornings they should be 

 lightly syringed. To keep free of insects fumigate reg- 

 ularly once a week. 



Seed Sowing; 



January is a good month in which to sow many flower 

 seeds. It is an advantage to start many varieties before 

 the solar heat gets stronger. In a uniform temperature, 

 such as we usually get in January, germination is more 

 likely to be good than later in the season. In each case 

 we prefer to use sterilized soil and to water the soil be- 

 fore sowing the seeds, dusting a little fine sand over 

 them after watering, then covering with sheets of glass 

 and paper until germination takes place. All such seeds 

 as verbenas, Vinea rosea, V. alba, heliotropes, browallias, 

 cannas, asparagus in variety. Lobelia Emperor William, 

 L. gracilis, torenias and petunias and many perennials 

 can advantageously be started now. 



Tuberous Begonias 



These begonias make most useful plants for the retail 

 florists. They can be used in a good many ways for out- 

 door embellishment, such as for filling vases, window 

 boxes that have a partially shaded position, and also for 

 beds and borders where the sun does not strike too 

 strong. Sow now some of the best strains in pans in 

 loam two parts, leaf mold and sand one part each. Fill 

 the pans to within half an inch of the top. Sprinkle on 

 some finely sifted compost and press firmly and even 

 all over and on this sow the seed. Keep the pans cov- 

 ered with a piece of glass until the seeds have germi- 

 nated. To do well they should have a temperature from 

 65 to 70 degrees during the night. Keep well up to the 

 glass so they will not draw. In five or six weeks they 

 should be large enough to prick out into flats. Some 

 time in March they will be ready for two-inch pots. For 

 a potting compost use soil two-thirds, old manure and 

 leaf mold one-third each with some sand. At this stage 

 give a night temperature of 60 degrees. 



Start Making Flats 



It will only be a very short time before we will need 

 lots of flats to hold our young stock. Now before the 

 rush starts get some light lumber or boxes and make up 

 into flats. Every florist should make use of any spare 

 time in getting up a good supply of these very useful 

 boxes. Flatte can be made into a handy size of 14 by 20 

 inches which mal<es about the best size for all general 

 use. So get busy now on this work. 



Mr FarreU's next notes will be on tbe following: Chrysnnthemiims; Fibrous-Rooted Begonias; Orchids; Primulas; Rambler Roses; 



Value of Records. 



Asparagtts pluniosus and Sprengeri 



It is always better to sow this seed as soon after the 

 new year as possible so as to produce fine plants by next 

 June. It seems as every year goes past that we have 

 to grow better plants to keep up to our brother grower. 

 Use a compost of loam three parts, leaf mold two parts 

 and enough sand to make it porous. Fill the pans 

 within an inch of the top and then press the material 

 moderately firm and on this sow the seed. Cover the 

 seed about an eighth of an inch deep. Place in a 

 temperature of about 70 degrees at night and keep 

 them shaded until they come up when they can have all 

 the light agoing. When they show up well stand them 

 near the glass and keep them moist and in the same 

 temperature that they were started in. When they are 

 big enough to handle they can be potted into 2-inch 

 pots, using a mixture of fresh loam three parts, cow 

 manure one part and a little sand. When they have 

 filled these pots with roots move into 3-inch and again 

 into 4-inch. 



Care of Geraniums 



One of the heavy jobs just now is shifting geraniums 

 from 2 to 3-inch pots. It is always better to do this as 

 soon as possible, so as to give the plants a long season in 

 which to grow. It is better to give two shifts than one. 

 They can be moved successively to 3-inch and 4-inch 

 pots. For a compost use two-thirds of soil that has 

 been stacked up in a compost pile and mix with one- 

 third of very well rotted manure and give the geraniums 

 a light, sunny bench. After potting they enjoy a little 

 bottom heat; so, if you have any heating pipes under 

 any of the benches, these would provide the necessary 

 warmth. A temperature of 65 degrees in the day and 

 45 to 50 degi'ees at night is sufficient. A little more 

 warmth is desirable for young stock, until it gets estab- 

 lished. Add a 4-ineh pot of fine bone to each bushel of 

 soil. This tends to make the growths harder and more 

 floriferous. I must say that if you want good bedding 

 plants in May, bushy plants with one or two good 

 trusses of flowers, this midwinter shift is necessary and 

 will pay well. Water with care until they are well 

 rooted. 



Sowing Gloxinias 



Time to make a sowing of gloxinias. Use a light 

 ■compost of one-half of loam, one-half leaf mold, with 

 some sand. Sow the seed on this and first press in 

 firmly on the moist surface. Cover with a square of 

 glass and place near the light in a temperature of from 

 60 to 65 degrees. When the seedlings begin to come up 

 they should have more light and air. When fit to handle 

 they can be pricked into other pans or flats. Later they 

 can be potted into small pots. The soil for the first 

 shift should be very sandy and pliable — a compost of 

 fresh loam and partly decomposed leaf mold in equal 



