344 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



CYPERUS ALTERNIFOLIUS (UMRRELLA PLANT) 



For a time we almost gave up growing Umbrella plants. Years 

 ago they were found in every greenhouse and often were used for 

 indoor window boxes, as single plants for house decoration and, in 

 a small state, for the center feature of fern dishes ; then other things 

 took their place. Of late, however, we have been using them quite 

 a good deal during Summer. Our customers want them planted 

 alongside of bird baths, or use them planted in bulb pans in the 

 Lily pond, the natural pool, or the fountain. That is, after all, 

 where these plants really belong. They are easily grown on in the 

 greenhouse from cuttings; root these in December and January so 

 as to have heavy 5- and 6-in. pot plants by June. Take an 8-in. 

 fern dish, close the hole in the bottom with a cork, fill the dish with 

 sand, then pour into it as much water as it will hold; remove the 

 old leaves from the plants, leaving a 1-in. piece of stem to each 

 leaf; trim the leaves themselves back to one inch in length and 

 insert them into the sand so they are partly covered. They want 

 a little bottom heat. You can also root such cuttings in the propa- 

 gating bench, but you should keep them well soaked at all times; 

 otherwise they dry up before making root. 



Fig. 142. How TO DIVIDE A FORGED CLUMP OF DAHLIA TUBERS in early Spring 



for planting in the open is shown here. If many plants are wanted, the tubers 



should be started in the propagating bench and cuttings from the young growth 



rooted with a little bottom heat 



