March 7, 1914. 



HORTICULTUKE 



82fi 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



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pf.Pi/IAl^^ 



QaaaUoiM bj our readers In line with any of the topics preceoted on this page will be cordially received and promptly anawerad 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such commnnlcatlons should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICDLTDRK. 



buds will be small in any house where the maintenance 

 of 65 degrees of heat, with little or no deviation either 

 way, iH'esents no difficulty. A temperature uniform 

 and steadily held, even if a trifle lower or higher than 

 the normal means everything in the perfect development 

 of gardenia blooms. A daily light spraying of foliage 

 and buds serves the two-fold purpose of keeping the 

 plants bright and clean and the atmosphere from be- 

 coming too dry. Tempered water, if possible, should be 

 used. This is also the season when injudicious and 

 careless watering has the most telling effect on gar- 

 denias. Where the plants are growing in thoroughly 

 drained l)enehes or pots, and where the planting has 

 been done in a correct manner, insuring a stand just 

 right as to base of stem merely touching the soil, there 

 will be less danger from overwatering than from insuf- 

 ficiency (if water, either excess being the immediate cause 

 of the dreaded "yellows," the principal bugbear in 

 gardenia culture. 



Lilies for Easter 



It is usually calculated that it takes six weeks for a 

 lily flower to develop from the time the bud first shows. 

 It can be done in less. I would prefer to have six weeks, 

 yet it can be done in four. To have them right for 

 Easter they should show their buds by the first week in 

 March which will give you plenty of time in which to 

 finish up in a cooler temperature. Where lilies are thus 

 far advanced they will need but little pushing, 60 de- 

 grees being high enough for the present. But those 

 that do not show their buds by this time should be 

 given 65 degrees and then gradually raise it to 70 by 

 the end of March. There is no plant that loves syring- 

 ing more than does a lily, yet no plant resents more 

 quickly an over supply of water at the roots. On a 

 bright day syringe two or three times. Wliere liquid 

 food is applied with caution it proves of benefit while 

 buds are swelling. 



Orchids 



Calanthes make a superb orchid for the florist. They 

 produce an abundance of showy flowers that last a long 

 time in perfection. Prepare flats with plenty of crocks 

 over the bottom and on this spread a layer of moss, then 

 fill with sharp sand. The bulbs can be placed in these 

 flats quite close together in a temperature of 65 to 70 

 degrees at night. When they have made root and top 

 growth they can be potted, one bulb to a 5 or 6-inch 

 pan or three bulbs to an 8 or 9-inch pan. Fill pans 

 one-third full of crocks. A compost of fibrous soil and 

 well dried and decayed cow manure in equal parts, to 

 which may be added "some peat and silver sand will grow 

 them well. Pot them firmly, tying the bulbs to short 

 stakes to keep them steady. In their growing season 

 they require a pot and moist house of about 65 degrees 

 and when growth is complete a cooler house will be 

 more beneficial. They are subject to thrips, which must 

 be continually searched for and destroyed by sponging 

 the plants over often. 



Mr. FnrreU's next notes wiU be on the following: Care of Chrysanthemums; Youne Carnations; Bullions Stock for Easter; Hot- 

 beds; Fancy-Leaved Caladiums; Starting Cosmos. 



Care of Dahlias 



Nearly all the newer varieties that are worth raising 

 grow amazingly fast after being once started in any 

 ordinary greenhouse. In working up a stock of good 

 dahlias from cuttings, the roots should be started into 

 growth from the first week in March and cuttings should 

 not go into the sand before March 25 or after April 15. 

 The roots are started in a bench, or, if there is only 

 a limited number of them, in -boxes, planting them 

 somewhat closely together in rich soil. Give them the 

 fullest light and a temperature of not lower than 55 

 degrees. Of the new growth put forth only the stoutest 

 and brightest looking shoots should be taken for cut- 

 tings. Placed in a few inches of well firmed sand with 

 but little bottom heat, afforded good care as to spray- 

 ing, shading and ventilation, these cuttings will be ready 

 for pots in from two to tliree weeks. A dahlia cutting 

 well-calloused and beginning to emit roots will make 

 better headway than when left longer in the sand. A 

 cool, light and amply ventilated house will be the place 

 for them after that with plenty of room between the 

 plants. Keep well watered and give them some room 

 from time to time. 



Carnations 



Much of the success of the carnation grower depends 

 upon proper care being given to the young stock in the 

 earliest stages. The experienced propagator can usually 

 tell almost to a day when his cuttings are fit to be taken 

 out of the sand and potted. The beginner will probably 

 have to lift a plant or two and examine them before 

 commencing to pot. When half an inch, or even less, 

 of root, has been made from the callous, the plants are 

 ready to pot. When possible, have soil and pots near 

 the propagating bench, so as to prevent'the dr}'ing out 

 of the roots. The dry, cool air and drafty conditions of 

 the ordinary potting shed are not good for the tender 

 young rootlets. For a compost use that which you cut 

 last fall and mixed with manure at the rate of three 

 loads of sod to one of cow manure. In potting, make 

 the soil tolerably firm by pressure of the thumbs, and 

 finish just below the rim of the pot. Coming, as they 

 do, from the shade of the propagating bench, the young 

 plants cannot at first stand full exposure to the sun, so, 

 if the weather is bright, they should be lightly shaded. 

 Newspapers answer the purpose, though a line of muslin 

 about a foot or so above the plants is better. Keep at 

 about 50 degrees at night. Watering is a subject upon 

 which no definite instructions can be given. As a gen- 

 eral rule, I like to be able to water the young plants 

 once daily. 



Gardenias 



To successfully flower gardenias now requires con- 

 siderable skill. It is at this season more than at any 

 other when gardenias, well forvvard and full of promise, 

 .are very ready to drop their buds on the slightest provo- 

 cation. There will be little of this trouble where the 

 plants are in a house by themselves and under the close 

 surveillance of an experienced grower. The loss in 



