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The Florists^ Review 



OCTOBBB 14, 1920 



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I Pacific Coast Department 



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Capitola, Oal. — Word has been re- 

 ceived from James A. Brown, of the 

 Brown Bulb Banch, that during his 

 month and a half abroad, among bulb 

 men of Guernsey, Holland and Belgium, 

 he h^ secured much fine planting stock. 



PBOPAQATION OF EBIOAS. 



I shall greatly appreciate any infor- 

 mation you can give me regarding the 

 propagation and growing of ericas as 

 pot plants. Please state the proper 

 length of the cuttings and the best time 

 to take them. Is it necessary to re- 

 move the bottom leaves from the cut- 

 tings, and how? What is the best ma- 

 terial for the successive pottingsf Is 

 it best to grow the plants in pots 

 throughout for^ say Christmas trade? 

 Would it be better to grow the plants 

 in a shaded greenhouse in summer, 

 rather than in a lath house? 



G. H. S.— Cal. 



It is taken for granted that the ericas 

 referred to in this inquiry are the 

 softer-wooded varieties, such as Erica 

 melanthera and the like, which are the 

 favorite commercial sorts. They are 

 usually propagated from cuttings, taken 

 at any time in winter or spring, but 

 most commonly in April. The cuttings 

 are from one to one and one-half inches 

 long and are taken from the tips of 

 young growths; the tender shoots from 

 young plants are the best. These cut- 

 tings, after the lower leaves have been 

 caref ullv stripped from them, are in- 

 serted nrmly in well drained flats or 

 patiSy with a layer of sandy peat, or of 

 light 4oam and leaf -mold, immediately 

 abpve the drainage and with an inch 

 of'clean sand on the surface. As the 

 cuttings need a close atmosphere for a 

 time, ^ they are generally covered at 

 first with panes of glass. Bottom heat 

 is not necessary. They are thoroughly 

 watered when inserted, but later are 

 kept only moderately moist until 

 rooted. When they begin to show signs 

 of growth, air is gradually admitted. 

 They are not potted until well rooted 

 and the rooting process generally re- 

 quires seven or eight weeks. 



The best potting material, in all 

 stages of the plants' growth, is a light 

 peat, mixed with nearly one-third of 

 coarse, sharp sand. In the absence of 

 peat, a fairly satisfactory substitute is 

 a good fibrous loam, with a third of leaf- 

 mold and some sand. It is believed 

 that lime, either in the soil or in the 

 water, is unfavorable to the growth of 

 the plants. 



Yes, continuous pot culture is the best 

 and safest method for ericas, as the 

 roots are easily broken and are likely 

 to be seriously injured in the operation 

 of lifting from the open ground and 

 repotting. Even in transferring the 

 plants from one pot to another, the 

 roots should be disturbed as little as 

 possible and the new soil should be 

 pressed in firmly. The plants should 

 be plunged in their pots for the sum- 

 mer, in a position where they will be 

 exposed to plenty of air and light. A 

 lath house, such as is suggested in the 

 inquiry, would be decidedly preferable 



to a shaded greenhouse. After flower- 

 ing, the plants are cut back and re- 

 potted. 



LOS ANOEUBS. 



The Market. 



For some unaccountable reason retail 

 business has not held up to the average 

 this week, and several of the store men 

 report a falling off, especially in box 

 and transient trade. But shipping, on 

 the other hand, has been decidedly good, 

 all the wholesale houses sending out 

 large quantities of stock. With the ar- 

 rival of plenty of BonnafFon, Chieftain 

 and White Chieftain the mum market 

 has declined a little and some extra 

 good values have been offered on cer- 

 tain days. This is the reflex of too high 

 prices earlier in the season. Hunter 

 keeps up in price, owing to its excellent 

 keeping and shipping qualities. Indoor 

 carnations are improving every day and 

 field stock is also much better in quality. 



Boses are coming in plentifully, espe- 

 cially the better pink varieties. Good 

 reds are still below the demand. 



Dahlias are more plentiful than usual 

 for the season and in great variety. 

 Gladioli are shortening up in numbers, 

 but the quality is fine and the flowers 

 bring good prices. Cosmos, delphinium 

 and other decorative stock are coming 

 in freely and small flowers are about 

 equal to the demand. Cyclamens, 

 coleus, ferns and palms, with a few 

 begonias, form the principal plant offer- 

 ings. The cyclamens are unusually good 

 for the season. A few early single vio- 

 lets are seen, but they are not worth 

 picking and certainly are unfit to ship. 

 Greens of all kinds continue to be abun- 

 dant. 



Vaxious Notes. 



A. F. Borden, of the Bedondo Floral 

 Co., left last week for Indianapolis to 

 attend the convention of the Florists' 

 Telegraph Delivery Association. Frank 

 Beymond, of the same company, has 



MUMS 



MUMS 



The usual high quality shipping 

 stock that we always handle. 



PACKED' RIGHT. 



ALL OTHER STOCK IN SEASON. 



Green and Sphagnum Moss 



L. A. FLORAL CO. 



Thm Hotum of Quality and Smrviem 

 236 EAST FOURTH ST., LOS ANGELES, CALIF. 



Mention The Review when you write. 



Chrysanthemums 



GEORGE J. HALL & CO. 



423 East 5th St. 



Los Angeles, Cal. 



