February 14. 1914 



HORTICULTURE 



221 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



QbmUoim by our readers in line witb any of the topics presented on tbls page will be cordtnlly received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such commanlcatlons should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTCRE. 



Alternantheras 



A good crop of cuttings will now be available from 

 the stock plants. The cuttings after they have been 

 sheared off, or taken with a knife should be put in the 

 sand in close rows. They require a good watering when 

 ]jut in and shade for five or six days. With bottom heat 

 they will be rooted in a little more than two weeks, when 

 they should be lifted and put into flats. If pot plants 

 are required, these, when they have made sufficient roots 

 and are crowded in the flats, can be potted into 2^ or 

 3 in. pots. Light, fibrous soil, kept moist, suits alter- 

 nantheras, and a bench up near the glass, warmed from 

 underneath, is the best place for them, better than hot- 

 beds or frames. Two or three crops of cuttings can 

 also be had of those first propagated; in fact, when kept 

 going, cuttings in plenty can be got from quite a lim- 

 ited number of stock plants. 



Care of Palms 



In potting pahns, it should be remembered to always 

 give small shifts. When they are over]iottod or tubbed 

 the soil usually becomes soured and wormy liel'ore the 

 roots can take it up, and good results are iinpot^sible 

 "when this occurs. In regard to compost, shake mit the 

 finer particles of soil and use good fibrous loam. A good 

 com|)Ost for palms is two-thirds fibrous loam, one-third 

 peat mold witli a liberal addition of sand. Large plants 

 can have some coarse bone added and a little well-dried 

 cow manure. Always pot firmly and water with caution 

 until the roots are actively at work in the new compost. 

 All your palpis may not need shifting. Those that are 

 not to be repotted can have a top-dressing, picking away 

 some of the old material first, and then renewing with 

 rich compost. Before repotting see that the palms are 

 clean. To keep them clear of scale, spray occasionally 

 with some insecticide that will loosen up the scales, al- 

 lowing them to be sponged off clean. 



Flowering Shrubs for Easter 

 It is just as well to bring any flowering shrubs in- 

 tended for Easter a little early. A temperature of 45 

 degrees is high enough to start with. z\ moderate mois- 

 ture at the roots, but copious, frequent sprinkling over- 

 head will soom bring about an even all-around break 

 and the starting of active root fibers. This accom- 

 plished, they may safely be treated to more heat. .K 

 graded, slow rise to 60 degrees, with from 5 to 8 degrees 

 higher on bright days will finally fix the even course of 

 regular forcing, promote luxuriant growth and perfect 

 development of foliage and flowers. The temperature 

 can be raised 5 degrees every ten days until you have 

 them at about 70 at night. Shrubs will have better 

 flowers and foliage if they have all their hard forcing 



.Ml-. Farrell'p next notes will be on the following: Azaleas; Drat 



Ing Lemon 



ten days before they start to open their buds. Wlien 

 they are fairly well out in fllower a drop to about 50 

 degrees at night will add to their keeping qualities as 

 well as give substance to their flowers. 



Rambler Roses 



Plants to be in bloom for Easter should now be in a 

 sunny house with a night temperature of about 55 

 degrees. If the shoots are now 5 to 6 inches long on the 

 Ramblers they are all right. But where they are not 

 that far advanced, when they have developed some root 

 action and the new growth appears, the temperature 

 should be slowly raised to 60 or up to 65 degrees if 

 necessary. While under this forcing they will need 

 water in ample quantities both at the roots and in over- 

 head sprinkling. When they get into fairly good growth 

 they will need careful watching so that they do not dry 

 out too quickly, a condition which is very liable to pro- 

 duce a few flowers prematurely instead of a full set of 

 bloom. Ramblers want abundant water supplied, and 

 liquid manure every fourth day until the flowers begin 

 to expand when it should be discontinued. When ven- 

 tilating avoid cold drafts, which will cause mildew to 

 start and soon render the plants unsaleable. Look out 

 for plants growing near heating pipes as once red spider 

 gets a foothold tliey are speedily ruined. 



Sweet Peas 



Sweet peas sown in pots and growing cool will make 

 fine stock for spring flowering. If the place on the 

 benches is not ready, sow from four to six seeds to a 

 4-inch pijt and they can be planted in the benches in 

 about four weeks. Sown at this time there will be less 

 difficulty than with the early crops. They will last for 

 jiieking from four to six weeks and will find a good 

 market and price. A good compost for sweet peas 

 should consist of about three parts loam to one of ma- 

 nure. They should have a temperature of 45 degrees to 

 50 degrees at night with a rise to 60 to 70 degrees with 

 sunshine. Keep them well up to the li.ght, syringe on 

 all bright days and be careful about watering. Whether 

 profitable or not depends now on ciiltural skill and not 

 on market conditions as formerly, for good sweet peas 

 eaii now be' sold right along at excellent prices. 



Starting Coreopsis 



Plants intended for !\remorial Day can be brought 

 into a cool house in a week or two. It is always better to 

 start these plants slowly and cool. In about two or three 

 weeks they can stand 50 degrees. As the roots become 

 active they will want lots of water, and weekly doses of 

 liquid manure. Give plenty of ventilation. 



aenas; Euphorbia f iilgons ; On 

 Verbenas. 



lids; Tuberous Begonias : Start- 



