462 



HORTICULTURE 



September 30. 1911 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of Florists' Stock 



AZALEAS 



JubI as sunn as you gel the new Importations from 

 Europe unpack and give each plant that has a dry root 

 ball, a dipping in a tub of water long enough to thor- 

 oughly saturate the ball; don'1 overlook this for it is 

 very important in starting after they have 



□ b.oxed up from three to Eour weeks. Pot them 

 into as si possible, using loam and leaf mold 



in equal parts, with enough sand to let the water pass 

 freely. See that there is good drainage provided, and 

 be sure to pot firmly. For a few days place them in 

 a house that is shaded and keep rather close. Give a 

 daily spraying and gradually let them get used to the 

 sun and when they will stand full sun place them in a 

 cool house with plenty of air. The early varieties, 

 such as Apollo, Deutsche Perle, Simon Mariner, etc.. 

 that are wanted for Christmas blooming can be kept in 

 a temperature of about 50 degrees as it helps the buds 

 to develop gradually. It takes from 6 to 8 weeks to 

 force them into (lower with a temperature from 60 to 65 

 degrees. 



FORMOSA LILIES 



These lilies are very useful commercially and should 

 be more grown, for they produce flowers of a fine type, 

 with excellent texture, which makes them ideal for a 

 good many uses. The potting soil should be a good 

 fresh loam, to which has hern added a fourth of some 

 old and well rotted manure. One good watering should 

 carry them over until the bulbs are well rooted. Place 

 them in a frame where they will be all right for some 

 weeks to come. These lilies are very variable in growth; 

 while some will be only coming through the soil, others 

 will be 8 or 10 inches, or more in height. These earlier 

 ones should be picked out and given a place as near the 

 glass as accommodation will permit in a house of about 

 6.0 degrees at night and they will be useful during Jan- 

 uary and February when flowers are not so plenty. 

 Keep down the aphis by fumigating frequently but 

 moderately once a week. When the buds show give 

 them some liquid manure once a week. 



IRISES 



The Iris family includes a large number of beautiful 

 kinds. While they will grow in any good deep loamy 

 ground that has a cool moist subsoil, it is well to use 

 some care in the preparation of the iris bed. Give them 

 a good start by enriching the soil with such 

 fertilizers as well-decomposed manure, bone meal, 

 etc., that has been well pulverized and deeply dug in 

 and in a fully exposed sunny situation. Fall-planted 

 irises produce better flowers the first season than if 

 transplanted in spring. Irises increase rapidly and 

 should be lifted and divided and replanted every three 

 or four years. They can be planted from 12 to 18 

 inches apart each way. A collection of German, Eng- 

 lish and Japanese iris will give a succession of flowers 

 of exquisite colors and ferns. 



POT PLANTS TOR CHRISTMAS 



There is every reason to believe that a larger pot 

 plant trade than ever will be done this coming holiday 

 season and now is the time to figure on what you will 

 need. If you are slum of stock uow is the time to buy. 

 You will find the best and most reliable dealers by a 

 glance through the advertising columns of Horticul- 

 ture. All such plants as araucarias, Begonia Lorraine, 

 Jerusalem cherries, lilies, Roman hyacinths, paper-white 

 narcissi, poinsettias, Erica melanthera, primulas, azaleas 

 such as Firefly, Mine. Petrick, Deutsche Perle, Simon 

 Mardner, Apollo and Vervaeneana, zonal geraniums, 

 ferns, palms, etc., should have the closest attention from 

 now on. See that the ventilation has careful manage- 

 ment for the outside condition of the weather is uncer- 

 tain. At this period of the year generally speaking, all 

 plants need very careful watering. See that they are 

 kept clean by proper fumigation and occasional spong- 

 ing of all decorative plants. 



RAMBLER ROSES 



Those who grow their ramblers in the field may lift 

 them any time now, taking care to preserve as many of 

 the roots as possible. Use any good rose soil for pot- 

 ting, pot firmly and give them good drainage. Place 

 the plants anywhere outside for the present and give 

 them a thorough watering. The earlier you attend to 

 these plants now the better they will be, for they will 

 have more time to form roots before hard weather sets 

 in. There is no need for pruning the wood back at 

 this time. Those that are pot-grown all summer should 

 by this time have completed their growth. Decrease 

 the water supply to assist the wood in becoming ripe, 

 but don't let them become dust dry as this would shrivel 

 up the wood rather than harden it. In two or three 

 weeks or when the wood is well ripened they should be 

 laid on their sides, as the heavy rains would have a 

 tendency to keep the wood soft. 



VARIEGATED VINCAS 



These plants that have been planted out should now 

 be lifted and potted. A 4 or 5-inch pot is a very good 

 size. Use a good loam with a third of well-rotted ma- 

 nure. Pot quite firmly and then give enough water to 

 penetrate the soil through. If you have a bench in a 

 cool house where they can stand close to the edge so 

 their long growths can hang down, this will make good 

 quarters for them for the winter and they will grow 

 into splendid and very useful plants for vases and 

 veranda boxes, by next spring. 



Mr. Fnrrell's next notes will be on the following: Antirr- 

 hinums; Bulb Planting Outside; Care of Vandas; Fall Care of 

 Violets; Treatment of Nymphaeas; Rooting Cuttings of Hardy 



Shnil.s. 



