December L6, L91t 



hort i cu i/r r 1; i. 



859 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of Florists' Stock 



CARE OF CALCEOLVKI \s l'HOM NOW OS 



I ►on't run these plants too high Eor they an I ivel] 

 injured by being kept in too warm ;i temperature. From 



now 15 degrees al nighl si id be the limit and - 



you wain to retard them the] should be kept in a vei 

 cool house say three or four degrees above the 1 1 . 

 point. At this cool stage the] should lie held a little 

 on the dry side, hut yet with enough moisture at the 

 roots i" keep them sprightly and Eresh. Those that are 

 kept growing on in a temperature of l<i or 1"> J.-iv, - 

 should be allowed room to develop their foliage. Give 

 them plenty of air daily when possible. It is advisable 

 to keep them shifted I' rum time to time until their flow- 

 ering size is reached. These plants are ver] particular 

 about drainage so always be Mire to ha\e a -nod layer 

 of broken crocks in the bottom of every pot. Give them 

 a loam that is left Lumpy four parts, well rotted cow 

 manure one part, leaf mold one part, and sharp sand 

 enough to keep the mixture porous and mellow. Keep 

 them rid of llv by light fumigations done often, which 

 is more effective than infrequent heavy doses. 



FORCING EARLY X U&CISS1 



The earliest planted bulbs of this ideal winter flower 

 ing bulb that were brought in and put under a bench in 

 a cool bouse three or four weeks ago should by this time 

 ha\e tilled their flats with lots of root-. To have the 

 first lot prove a success bi sure that they have a 

 root growth first, otherwise the attempt will lie a failure. 

 They will stand a strong heat when well rooted: any- 

 where front 75 to 80 degrees will not harm them. In 

 forcing narcissi for January flowering they will need 

 to be well-shaded so as to draw up the flower stem for 

 two or three weeks; then remove the shading a little 

 at a time until they have full sun. Remember that they 

 will require frequent waterings when they are kept in 

 a high temperature. 



QLOXINl IS Hit; SPRING FLOWERING 



Where nice flowering plants are wanted for the 

 months of April and Mm a hatch of bulbs should be 

 started now and another can be -tailed in about a 

 month: this will give a much longer period of flower- 

 ing. The best wa\ of starting these conn- is to place 

 them quite closi together in flats in a compost of leaf 

 mold and sand ami then give enough of water jn-i to 

 moisten the soil thoroughly : he careful not to give too 

 much until the bulbs have made some growth. A- these 

 plants aiv essentially tropical they should have a night 



temperature of from 60 t legrees. When they have 



made a little top growth and some nice roots they can 

 be potted off into l-itich pots in a compost of fibrous 



loam three part-, cow- manure ami leaf Id each one 



part. When they have tilled these pot- with roots 

 they should he -hilled :nio their flowering pots, with 



g 1 drainage, [f seed - sown now ami grown on the\ 



will make nice flowering plants b] next August. 



INORE 'SING MH li FERN 5TOI K 



All florists who crow a certain amount of their fern 

 stock should make preparation now to increase it — by 



division where possible or i,\ sowing thi All 



- i n that have i reeping i In in he mul- 



tiplied inl toi ■ All such ferns a- Adiantums, 



Davallias, Nephrolepis, Polypodiums, etc., can be 

 • I by division. Bi i n 



retain quite a lew roots and then p 

 together in flats or pans in a compost of half leaf 

 and half sand. There i- no better plact Eor 



or pan- I lian a w a i ■ ■ - Qch win-re t hey will 



not be subjected to any dry or cold currents of air. 



Keep the iii sphere of the frame moist and maintain 



a temperature of from 65 b CO frees and they will 

 soon begin to make new fronds and roots, after which 

 thej can be potted up in any good porous soil. 

 they begin to make root- in their pots tin 

 a temperature of about 60 degrees at night. All this 

 young stock should have a house or bem b ■■ 

 , an haw phni \ of light « ithoul too much direct sun. 

 Spore- (;in be sown now any time. Seedling ferns 

 will need a lot of care at this season. When they are 

 large enough the] should be pricked ofE into other pans 

 or Hats: those that are large enough can be potted and 

 placed in a temperature of about 60 degrees at night 

 well up to the glass; otherwise tie growth will be long 

 and weak. 



si 'S 



To obtain nice bush] plants of good size bring in 



si f j'our -took plant- and shorten them hack to 



firm ripe wood. They should he shaken out and re- 

 potted into good Eresh loam and given a bench in a 

 house where they will get lota of sunshine with a night 

 temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees, it will be neees- 

 sary to give them an overhead spraying dailj to 

 up the hud-, make them break well and start off into 

 sturdy growths. When they have made 



two to three inches long these' should 

 be taken off and inserted in a propagating bed that 

 stands at 65 degrees bottom heat with rature 



overhead of about 55 degrees. When rooted they can 

 be potted into '-" - or 3-inch pots using an] .:■ 

 loam broken up fine, three parts, well rotted manure 

 and leaf meld one part each I i should he p 

 quite firm, but nol hard. When they are established 

 they will need abundance of water and daily -win 

 with 50 or 55 degrees at night. 



I. II. 11 - I \ I ENDED I OB EASTER 



Go o lilies intended Eor Easter and select the 



most forward for there is a big difference in their 

 growth. While some will have made a growth of a 

 will not be showing at all. All 

 those that have a top growth should be immed 

 placed in a house where they will get plenty of light 

 and about 50 degri ■" night until thej gel wel 

 wit 1 1 root-. Do the watering of these with 

 gi\ Lng just o kei p t ! i, soil in a moist cond 



By the end of this month I all be brought in 



ami plai ed on benches in t hi 

 get a start. 



.Mr. Farrell's next notes win be on tlie following : Acalypuas; 

 Cyprlpediums : Palms During Winter: D Getting Ready 



for Grafting Roses; Forcing Tnllps. 



