372 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



Fig. 161. FREESIAS. American-grown Freesias and also improved ntew hybrids 

 of American origin are now proving a blessing to thousands of florists 



Ry the average retail grower Freesias are usually considered one 

 of the many crops to follow Chrysanthemums, and he plants them 

 say five three-fourths size bulbs in a 4-in. pot by the middle or 

 end of August. The plants will be about 4 in. in height by the time 

 the early Chrysanthemums are through, and if planted by the end 

 of October they will start to flower by Christmas. 



Use good soil and plant deep enough to just cover the bulbs, 

 allowing as much space between them as possible. Put the pots in 

 a coldframe, over which place shade frames, not so much to keep them 

 dark as to prevent the sun from heating up the soil in the pots and 

 drying the bulbs out. Keep evenly moist but not wet. By the 

 middle of September their grass-like foliage will appear and then 

 they are better off without shade. If you don't want to bring them 

 under glass by early October, watch out for frost, and if necessary, 

 cover the frames with sashes. Plant in the benches in rows 1 ft. 

 apart; by making a trench you can place the plants close together 

 in the row and 1 in. or so lower than they were in the pots. Later 

 on support the plants the same as you would Carnations, with wire 

 lengthwise and twine crosswise. Freesias, when once in a growing 

 state, need plenty of water. To allow them to dry out means yellow 



