March 21. 1914 



HORTICULTURE 



405 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



QaaMlon* by our readers in line wltb any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answerad 

 by Mr. Farrell. Snch commnnlcatlons sbonld Invariably be addressed to tbe office of HORTICCLTCBB. 



LIBRA 



HEW Y 

 BOTAN 



QAKI 



Azaleas 



.^Itliougli Ea:'tur is now near at hand a deal of 

 pushing or retarding azaleas may still be practiced with 

 satisfactory results. Whether an azalea indica at 

 present is ahead of time or backward for Easter is now 

 plainly indicated by the appearance of the buds. An 

 azalea just beginning to show color, or one with buds 

 now quite fluffy and ready to open will in a cool but 

 well lighted house be just about right for Easter; or, 

 to be more definite, will be in full bloom in from ten 

 to fifteen days. Now, any that are not in this con- 

 dition will need special attention, if they are to be 

 good stock for Easter. There will be little need of 

 hastening azaleas for the great spring holiday, but 

 should there be some plants showing merely a swelling 

 of buds, then an increase in fire heat and an exposure 

 to the brightest sunshine will likely bring them out in 

 time. A very cool and shaded place, on the other hand, 

 must be found for those too far advanced. It will be 

 a better place for some of the most forward plants than 

 the coolest part of a fire heated house or shed. To hold 

 the most forward ones back, place in darkened and very 

 cool quarters, but the roots of azaleas must have water 

 in sufficiency, which may mean somewhat les.« for those 

 in a cool place than those under regular forcing but 

 always enough to ])rovpnt any drying out at the roots. 



Carinas 



It is now time to start a portion of the cauna roots 

 into growth, the object being to provide sufficient stock 

 for a trade denuuiding well-advanced pot-grown plants. 

 Large quantities of eannas are disposed of at retail 

 every spring and at prices which leave no doubt as to 

 their being handled with profit. Wintered-over canna 

 roots, firm and sound but not as yet showing ajjprecia- 

 ble growth, are in a condition most to be desired at this 

 time of year. They .should now be lifted into light. 

 laid on a few inches of sand, soil or dampened moss 

 over bottom heat, until every crown is more distinctly 

 developed. They are then cut into pieces, one shoot to 

 each, and these pieces potted into two ?izes, three and 

 four-inch pots, out of which they are sold later on. Or 

 the clumps may first be cut up, then immersed in soil, 

 moss or sand and, when grown out into shoots, be potted 

 up, any way that proves most convenient and economi- 

 cal in dividing the old clumps. Since bench space is 

 scarce with every good grower and 3-inch eannas bring 

 about as much as bedding stock as da those in 4 or 5- 

 inch pots, it is policy to use as small a size of pots as 

 possible for the ordinary grade of bedding eannas. 

 Fancy stock, or sorts especially adapted for pot culture, 

 of course, are treated as such, requiring 'a repotting 

 and given a favored position in a warm house. 



Gate of Carnations 



With the advent of spring it is absolutely necessary 

 to give air freely in order to keep the foliage from be- 

 coming soft and to encourage hard growth. As the 

 days get longer our old enemy, red spider, will begin 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Carnation 



Startinc Afhinienes; Transplan 



to get l)usy if not looked after sharply, but as we can 

 now use water more freely we can by the exercise of 

 a little energy and careful observation keep them in 

 -check. Thrips and greenfly will also multiply rapidly 

 if left undisturbed for even a short period and it is 

 well to have them in strict subjection at all times. Car- 

 nations develop the healthiest growth in a night tem- 

 perature between 50 and 5-t degrees, according to va- 

 riety. Much below 50 degTees causes a standstill in 

 growth, which is not at all desirable and in most cases 

 is harmful. With the longer days they will now need 

 more water at the roots. 



Smilax 



To kee]) smila.v in good growth and vigor look well 

 to the watering at the roots from this out. The beds 

 will dry out more now. Make it a point to keep the 

 soil nice and moist and give them a mulch of cow 

 manure and soil about an inch deep eveiy now and 

 again. Go over your beds often and place new strings 

 so they start to climb before they become entangled. 

 Cyive ventilation on all favorable occasions and a good 

 .syringing on bright days, getting well under the foliage 

 so as to keep tliem free of red spider which generally 

 iiecomes quite troublesome from this out. As a crop is 

 cut down hold up on the water until they have made a 

 new start. Thev like a night tem|ier:i1 ure of iibout fiO 

 degrees. 



Orchids 



Newly potted eattleyas will want very careful water- 

 ing until they push their new roots into the compost. 

 One point to remember is that it is better to under- 

 water than to overwater. As the season advances they 

 will want a more abundant supply. Do all watering in 

 the morning and give a good syringe so they will have 

 time to become dry before nightfall. They will need 

 some shade, but do not put it on too heavy. All that 

 is necessary is to give sufficient to break the direct rays 

 of the sun. Once in a while give them a sponging with 

 Aphine or Imp soap. Keep tem]ieraturp near 

 5'8 to 60 degrees at night and 10 to 15 degrees higher 

 with sun heat. During damp and dark days do not 

 use much water around the house. 



Pansies 



Keep the pansies nice and moist at the roots. As the 

 days become warmer you can pull the glass off them, 

 rejdacing it at night, as we are liable to have some very 

 cool nights for some little time yet. 



Stevia 



This plant so highly valued from Thanksgiving until 

 after tlie New Year w'ill want attention now. Place the 

 stock iilants well up to the glass so they will produi'' 

 sturdy cuttings. At about 50 degrees at night, in a 

 short time they show plenty of cuttings, which can he 

 placed in a cool propagating bed and they will root 

 without any trouble. 



Ground: Plants for Vases and Boxes; Preparations for Easter; 

 ting Seedlings; Salvia Cuttings. 



