September 23, 1911 



HORTICULTURE 



427 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists' Stock 



CARE OF ROSES 



The days are now becoming shorter and from now on 

 the temperature is liable to frequent and quite low 

 drops, so see that there is always a little heat in the 

 pipes to keep the air of the house circulating, and thus 

 prevent condensation. Give plenty of air on all clear 

 days, for this is especially necessary to keep the growth 

 from becoming soft, but guard against any strong or 

 cold draughts striking the plants. Keep the tempera- 

 ture anywhere from 73 to 75 degrees during sunshine, 

 and during cloudy weather 65 degrees will do, with 

 from 55 to 58 degrees at night. Examine the beds very 

 carefully from now on for when more heat is used the 

 benches will dry out on the bottom first, while the sur- 

 face will seem to be wet enough. Syringing should be 

 done only on bright days and in the morning only, but 

 should be done thoroughly on the under side of the 

 leaves so as to keep red spider in check. When exam- 

 ining the benches if you find the feeding roots near the 

 surface give them a light mulch of well-rotted cow ma- 

 nure two parts, loam one part, and a six-inch pot of 

 bone meal to every barrow load as a mulch; use it about 

 half an inch deep. Keep the benches clean and the 

 plants disbudded regularly. Fumigate for the aphis 

 weekly. 



GROWING T CLIPS 



The forcing of tulips does not differ much from that 

 of other bulbs. The principal point is to treat them 

 so that they will make plenty of active roots in their 

 flats, pans, or pots before they are brought into heat. 

 To excite top growth without this is to spoil all chance 

 of success. Those that are intended for inside should 

 go into flats as soon as received. Use any good loam 

 with one-third of well rotted manure. When the flats 

 are filled they can go outside and receive a thorough 

 watering. Place them where they can remain until 

 wanted for forcing and cover with at least six inches 

 of soil. Add a covering of some coarse manure deep 

 enough to prevent the surface from freezing up hard. 

 In conclusion, there are three things to be considered in 

 having good tulips. First, secure bulbs of the best 

 quality; second, flat them up early, and third, leave 

 them outside until the bulbs are well rooted, otherwise 

 they will be a failure. 



HARDY I'HLOX 



One of the most useful of all flowering perennials. 

 In planting phlox some consideration should be given 

 in the preparation of the soil. They like a good strong 

 loam above a clay subsoil which always keeps their 

 roots rather moist. It pays to trench your ground well 

 for this perennial, and have plenty of wi nosed 



manure thoroughly incoi I with the soil. P 



drainage is essential to the welfare of nearly all plants. 

 and phloxes are no exception to the rule. Phlox can be 

 planted anytime from now until the middle of October, 

 which will leave it time to become well rooted before 



cold weather. Plant the clumps 18 to 20 inches apart, 

 and before the hard weather sets in throw around the 

 roots a mulch of old manure. Every three years after 

 they are in full flower they should be lifted and sep- 

 arated into clumps of three or four stalks each and re- 

 planted. By making a judicious selection of varieties 

 a continuity of bloom can be had from June until late 

 fall. 



MIGNONETTE 



From now on mignonette should be encouraged in 

 every way to make a rapid growth. Give beds that 

 were planted in .luly a light mulch of rotted cow ma- 

 nure and loam using two of manure to one of soil, but 

 before the manun is pui on a dusting of some fine bone 

 should be applied to the beds. This mulch helps to 

 keep the beds from drying out so rapidly and at the 

 same time furnishes food, which is gradually washed 

 down into the soil. Disbudding is very necessary work. 

 See that plants are gone over at leas! once a week. The 

 matter of supports is of the greatest importance and 

 should not be left till they begin to fall over. A great 

 many devices are used, but it all tends to the same pur- 

 pose in keeping each plant confined in an upright po- 

 sition. To keep the green worm in check dust the 

 plants with Slug Shot or spray with a teaspoonful of 

 paris green in a common pail of water. Keep the at- 

 mosphere as cool as possible and give a free circulation 

 of fresh air. 



ORCHIDS 



Now that we are coming into the short days watering 

 should be very carefully regulated. Where the plants are 

 not in immediate need of water, it is well to let them 

 remain until the next day. As a guide, as to when to give 

 water, it is well to wait for a sign of slight dryness be- 

 fore watering so as to wet the whole mass. This even 

 applies to such plants as cypripediums, aerides, phalae- 

 nopsis, odontoglossums, miltonias, masdevallias, van- 

 das, etc. It is advisable now to modify the tempera- 

 ture in the various divisions, so as to meet the conditions 

 which tend to make root action less, thereby produc- 

 ing a more restful stage. The warm house should be 

 kept during the day with sun 72 to 78 degrees, without 

 sun 62 to 68 degrees, and night about 65 degrees. For 

 the intermediate house with sun 60 to 65 degrees, night 

 55 to 60 degrees. The cool house 55 to 60 degrees with 

 sun, without sun 58 degrees, night 50 to 55 degrees. 



S MILAN 



Be always very particular when watering smilax. 

 It is better to look over the benches before you begin 

 and locate the dr and wel -pots which will enable you 

 to keep the bench at an even moisture and thus ensure 

 a more even growth through the beds. When the 

 strings are cut don't allow the young growth to ramble 

 and become tangled before giving them a string to run 

 on. Give them a mulch of pulverized cow or sheep ma- 

 nure mixed with an equal quantity of loam about half 

 an inch deep. S ringe once or twice a day, as the 

 weather will allow. A night temperature of about 60 

 degrees suits and should always be maintained. 



Attend well to vi itilating so as to admit air without 

 cold dram 



Mr. Farrell's i I - will be on the following: Azaleas- 



Formosa Lilies; Iri- -; Pot Plants for Christmas; Rambler 

 Roses: Variegated VI 



