February 21, 1914 



HORTICULTURE 



267 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCX 



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Spf.PaA^iO/ 



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

 by Mr. Farrell. Snch commnnlcatlons abonld Invariably be addressed to the oflace of HORTICULTUBB. 



Azaleas 



Do not be in too much of a liurry in giving azaleas a 

 high temperature for the present at least. Azaleas can 

 be easily timed as they take from five to seven weeks in 

 a temperature of about 55 degrees at night. If those 

 wanted for Easter are in a moderately cool house they 

 will not require much forcing. They are much better 

 when grown in this way and the flowers possess more 

 fiubstance. Give ventilation on all good days; see that 

 none are allowed to become dry at the roots; give plenty 

 ■of room between the plants and give a good syringing 

 on bright days. The azaleas should show color about 

 three weeks before Easter so they can be hardened o£E 

 in a lower temperature. Do not let any of them break 

 into leaf growth which would only be at the cost of pro- 

 ducing good flowers. Carefully pinch out any leaf 

 growth that may be showing around the swelling of the 

 flower buds. 



Dracaenas 



While we have plenty of heat in the pipes is a good 

 time to increase our stock of fine foliaged dracaenas. 

 Leggy plants can be increased by "mossing" — cutting 

 the stem about half through, just below the leaves and 

 placing something between to keep the cut open. A 

 email handful of wet moss placed around the cut, and 

 secured by a few twists of raffia, answers the purpose. 

 The moss is kept constantly wet and when white roots 

 are seen pushing through, the stem is severed beneath, 

 and the moss and roots are buried to the lowest leaf in 

 a well-drained pot of soil. Having disposed of the top, 

 let up turn our attention to the old stem. With a sharp 

 knife we will now cut up the stem into portions one 

 inch long, and if we want as many plants as possible 

 we will split each section down the middle. Every sec- 

 tion, split or unsplit, forms a new plant. Place these in 

 a compost of equal parts of loam, leaf-mold and coarse 

 sand, and then sprinkle a layer of sand over all. Place 

 in a propagating case and in a very short time, pro- 

 vided plenty of heat and water are given, they show 

 roots and growth. When this stage is reached potting 

 singly in 'i\ inch pots should follow, with careful water- 

 ing, plenty of warmth and syringing. 



Euphorbia fulgens 



This makes a very beautiful plant, when well grown. 

 Plants that have flowered during the winter will carry 

 plenty of wood to propagate from. By heading back 

 some of these plants now and giving them a tempera- 

 ture of 65 degrees at night they will soon break into 

 young growth that will make fine cuttings. If these 

 cuttings are taken ofE with a heel and placed where they 

 can have bottom heat about 75 degrees they will root 

 without much trouble. During this stage tliey will 

 want careful watering and shading. Wlien they have 

 made roots of about half an inch they should be potted 



up in a compost of two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf 

 mold, one part well decayed cow manure and a little 

 sand. Keep shaded until they have taken root. They 

 will want a warm and rather moist house that never 

 goes lower than 60 degrees at night, but 65 degrees would 

 be better as they are heat loving subjects. Give careful 

 ventilation at all times. 



Orchids 



During the last of February and through March the 

 resting of orchids comes to an end. With the strong 

 sun and increased length of day they will start into 

 growth. So just before they make too much growth is 

 the best time for repotting or top-dressing most orchids. 

 The best material is either fibrous peat or fern fiber 

 and sphagnum moss, with charcoal and crocks for good 

 drainage. After being potted they should be frequent- 

 ly syringed and have abundance of moisture about the 

 house; in fact, the benches and floors should never be 

 dry. With new growth and root action will necessitate 

 lots of attention from this out in the way of watering, 

 but it must be borne in mind that over-watering is very 

 injurious to all orchids. Now that we have stronger 

 sun, the one thing to be remembered is to ventilate on 

 all possible occasions, but not so as to cause any cold 

 draughts. Make it a rule that when the proper tem- 

 perature has been reached ventilation will be in line. 



Toberous Begonias 



When these begonias are given half a chance they 

 are truly superb both in flower and foliage. If started 

 now and grown on you can have fine fiowering plants 

 by Decoration Day. Flats that are well crocked and 

 filled with a mixture of leaf mold and sand in equal 

 parts is the best way to start the tubers. Place about 

 an inch of the compost on sphagnum and crocks and 

 on this place the tubers fairly close together, just al- 

 lowing about half an inch of room between them. They 

 will want some bottom heat, so give them a place where 

 they can have at least 70 degrees and 75 would be better. 

 Give just enough water to keep the compost moist. In 

 four or five weeks the young leaves should be showing. 

 At this stage they will do better in a house that stands 

 from 55 to 58 degrees at night. When they have made 

 growth to the extent of crowding they should be potted 

 up in 4 or 5-inch pots, using a rich compost. 



Starting Lemon" Verbenas 



Old plants of lemon verbenas that have been resting 

 should now be brought into more heat. Give them a 

 place where they can have a temperature of about 50 

 degrees night temperature. When thus treated they 

 will soon produce any number'of fine cuttings. Place in 

 a moderately warm propagating bed, keep watered and 

 shaded and tliey will soon xoot. Potted into 2^ inch, 

 in rich compost they soon grow into fine stock. 



Mr. Parrell's next notes will be on tiie foUowinK: Bedding Geraciums; Begonias Lorraine and Cincinnati; Bouvardiaf>; Lily of 

 tile Valley for Easter; Propagating Violets; Shading Palms and Ferns. 



