Timely Pointers for Amateur Flcwer Gro^wers 



Now is the time for making hotbeds 

 for raising petunias, phlox, asters, 

 cockscombs (celosia christata), and 

 other annuals. If the bed has been com- 

 pleted about a week it should be in 

 fit condition to place seed boxes in. 

 Always allow a little air to come in 

 at the back of the frame so as to 

 the hot steam, which alwa}^s arises 

 from a newly made hotbed, to run 

 off. A few finely-sifted coal ashes, 

 placed on top of manure, are very bene- 

 ficial as they help to keep in the heat. 

 Seeds of annuals should be sown in 

 a light, sandy soil in shallow boxes. 

 Very fine seeds do not need to be cov- 

 ered. Sow them on top of the soil. 

 Asters, balsams and zinnias require to 

 be covered in the soil at about a depth 

 the size of the seed. In sowing all 

 kinds of spring seeds, the depth they 

 should be sown can be judged by the 

 size of the seed, that is, have just the 

 same depth of earth on the top of the 

 seed as the seed is high. Seed should 

 not be sown in seed boxes until after 

 the soil in the boxes has been well 

 watered. After sowing, the seed should 

 be pressed with some flat object to 

 force them in evenly. It is a good 

 plan to darken the surface with news- 

 papers or other object to cause the seeds 

 to germinate quickly. The seeds when 

 germinating should be watched carefully. 

 When the shoots begin to show the 

 covering must be removed. At this 

 period of growth, ventilation should 

 be watched closely. 



Now is the time to strike cuttings of 

 coleus, ageratum, geraniums, lobelias, 

 These will root in about 10 days or 

 two weeks. As soon as rooted they 

 should be removed and potted in 

 small pots in hglit, sandy soil, and 

 placed back in the hotbed again. Give 

 them a good watering and keep them 

 shaded from the sun for two or three 

 ■days to allow the roots to start in the 

 new soil. As soon as they are rooted, 

 they should be again placed in the 

 sun and light. 



All pruning should be done now as 

 danger from severe frosts is about over. 

 Hardy roses should have all weak wood 

 cut out, and the stout growths short- 

 ened to within six inches of the ground. 

 They will be much benefited by a lib- 

 eral coating of cow manure placed 

 around the roots. Do this as soon as 

 possible, so that the spring rains mav 

 wash the stimulant into the soil. 



Now is the lime to sow balsams and 

 ferns. Put in boxes, or pots, if boxes 

 are not convenient. 



.-Ml canna roots should be divided, 

 cleaned and put nto boxes, upon the 

 bottom of which should be placed a 

 couple of inches of soil. Water slightlv 

 and expos to the light After thev 



have started growth they may be re- 

 potted if so desired. Dahlias should 

 be divided now for summer growth. 



Tulip i in beds should be uncovered 

 immediately to get all the sun and 

 light possible. 



When all frost i; out of the ground 

 and the weather is fairly dry, the lawn 

 should be rolled If lawns are in poor 

 condition, use a standard chemical fer- 



tilizer to put them in good order. 

 Grass edgings should be cut off evenly. 



Plants that are broken down rom 

 winter frosts should be headed back, 

 and grape vines that have not been 

 pruned should be treated immediately 

 to prevent bleeding. 



If the roots of phlox or other peren- 

 nials tre large, divide them, using a 

 sp de or large knife. 



A Fine OrcHid 



A FINE old orchid that is free flower- 

 ing and easily grown when once its 

 requirements are understood, is 

 Coelogyne cristata. The plant requires a 

 good porous soil, and not too much of it. 

 It is better to use moss altogether than 

 peat of a low grade. Although when 

 once well potted, they will sometimes 

 grow and flower well for 10 or 12 

 years, that does not mean that, after 



ing yellow. Plants that have become 

 too large may be pulled to pieces, the 

 dead roots and some of the old bulbs 

 cut away, and as many pieces having 

 leads placed in the new pots as can be 

 done without crowding. They will 

 shrivel considerably after this operation, 

 but no attempt should be made to keep 

 them plump by soaking them with water. 

 If the plants are kept shaded and the soil 



Coelogyne cristata in a Ten-inch Pan 



once being done, they should forever 

 after be neglected. A top dressing 

 should be given yearly after the flowers 

 are past ; and, to assist in this work 

 when the plants become crowded, some 

 of the old bulbs should be cut out and 

 the spaces filled with new material. 

 Water should only be given when the 

 plants are seen to be dying out, and then 

 a good soaking should be given. A dose 

 of weak, liquid cow manure everv second 

 watering, when in full growth, will make 

 them produce larger bulbs and finer 

 flowers. 



They should be grown in a house 

 with a minimum temperature of 50 

 degrees, and only be shaded sufii- 

 cientlv to keep the leaves from turn- 



89 



just moist by syringing, they will take 

 hold more freely, and will soon swell up 

 again, when they can be more freely 

 watered. 



Japanese Iris 



Wlien should the bulbs of Japanese iris be 

 planted? How long will flowers of this plant 

 last when cut? — A. F., Woodstock, N.B. 



Spring is the best season to plant 

 Japanese iris. These plants grow well 

 in rich, moist land. They should be 

 planted in full sun. Shade has a tend- 

 ency to make the stems weak and 

 blooms flimsy. The latter last fairly 

 well as cut flowers if cut a few hours 

 before the buds are ready to unfold. 

 The sterns should at once be put in 

 water and kept in a cool place. 



