Febrdaby 18, 1915. 



The Florists^ Review 



17 



LATE PEOPAGATING. 



Need for Care. 



The cuttings put into sand will need 

 close watching from this time on. Not 

 only will the bottom heat be less 

 steady, but the sun is gaining strength 

 from day to day, which necessitates 

 more ventilating ' on bright days, and 

 that means greq,ter danger from drafts. 



There is perhaps nothing so vexatious 

 to the propagator as a warm, windy 

 day. A cutting that is drawing water 

 nicely will stand considerable sun with- 

 out serious injury, but let a warm draft 

 waft over a batch of newly stuck cut- 

 tings a few hours, and they will be 

 wilted beyond reviving. On such days 

 the curtain is not sufficient protection. 

 We have found that a light spraying 

 in the morning, in case a thorough 

 watering is not needed, will start off 

 the cuttings for the day in a nice, 

 fresh condition. Later, when the 

 ventilators are raised to admit enough 

 draft to be noticeable, we cover the 

 cuttings with newspapers, leaving them 

 on until the vents are lowered again in 

 the afternoon. It is advisable to re- 

 move the papers just as early as it can 

 be done without injury to the cuttings. 



If you succeed in keeping the cut- 

 tings in a fresh condition during the 

 first three weeks at this time of the 

 year, you can count on at least a fair 

 strike. But be careful all the time 

 that you do not overdo these things, 

 for on your ability to gauge exactly 

 the amount of spraying and shading 

 needed will depend your success. An 

 abundance of good, strong cuttings 

 should be available now, so don't take 

 anything undersized. A small cutting 

 taken early in January will make up 

 its deficiency with good care, but there 

 is not time for that this late in the 

 season. 



For Bed Sj^i^ifft. 



During the last two years I have 

 recommended a formula, made up of 

 sugar and arsenic, for fighting red 

 spider. The formula was given me by 

 a friend, who had used it with good 

 results. We tried it out thoroughly be- 

 fore recommending it and not only 

 found it effective where other remedies 

 had failed, but also found it quite safe, 

 so far as injury to the stock was 

 concerned. 



The formula is as follows: Take one- 

 half pound of arsenic and mix it into 

 five pounds of white sugar, mixing it 

 dry. Then add enough water to make 

 a thick syrup. When applying to the 

 plants, use one ounce of the syrup to 



one gallon of water. Spray with a fine 

 sprayer. 



A few days ago we received a letter 

 from a grower who had occasion to use 

 this remedy for spider and he reports 

 disastrous results. He states that he 

 had used it with good results twice, but 

 the third time it practically ruined his 

 plants. He further states that on the 

 first two occasions the mixture was 

 made exactly according to directions, 

 but the third time, an employee who 

 had been intrusted with the work 

 boiled the syrup, thinking to make a 

 better job of it. 



We are advised, on good authority, 

 that the boiling of the syrup was en- 

 tirely responsible for the mischief done. 

 The boiling so changed the chemical 

 properties of the mixture as to in- 

 tensify the burning effect of the 

 arsenic, and instead of the sugar re- 

 tarding the burning of the arsenic, 

 the boiling produced from it an acid 

 that aggravated the burning. This 

 shows how dangerous it is for anyone 

 who is not experienced in such matters 

 to experiment with chemical formulas. 

 Experiments of this nature should al- 

 ways be conducted on a small scale, 

 and certainly no employee should ever 

 do anything of this kind without the 

 full knowledge of his employer. We 

 trust that every grower who intends 

 using this formula will take heed and 

 mix it exactly according to directions. 

 The chemist advises me that no harm 

 should ever result to the plants if it is 

 used as recommended. 



A. F. J. Baur, 



CUT OR BREAK THEM OFF? 



Should carnations be cut or broken 

 off? T. N. 



Carnations are better when broken 

 off. Unless you want specially long 

 stems for exhibition purposes, it is much 

 easier to break them off than to cut 

 them. C. W. 



CARNATIONS AT FBAMINGHAM. 



W. R. Nicholson. 



At the Pleasant Hill Conservatories 

 carnations are still the leading spe- 

 cialty, as they have been since 1890, 

 when Grace Wilder, Astoria, F. Man- 

 gold, Heinze's White, Portia and Mrs. 

 Fisher were some of the more note- 

 worthy sorts. A quarter of a century 

 has seen, a wonderful development in 

 the divine flower, and houses which, 

 at the earlier period, seemed up-to-date, 

 appear now to be quite antiquated. 



All the leading carnations are grown 

 here. In whites, Matchless looked re- 

 markably well and had averaged eight 

 flowers per plant to February 1, but 

 White Wonder seemed much more pro- 

 lific, as well as longer-stemmed and 

 purer in color. In light pink. Pink De- 

 light has still no serious competitor. 

 Laura Weber did not appear to bloom 

 with particular freedom. In the darker 

 shades of pink, Philadelphia was do- 

 ing well; Eosette had a splendid, even 

 color, Mrs. C. W. Ward, while pretty, 

 was more variable. Benora filled the 

 entire bill as a white variegated. A 

 pure white sport has appeared and 

 should prove valuable. 



Beacon is freer and of better color 

 than Champion. The foliage of Cham- 

 pion has a droopy appearance, almost 

 suggesting wilt. This is not saying, 

 however, that it is not a good carna- 

 tion. Commodore proves to be too 

 small. Fenn is still grown as a crim- 

 son, but Mr. Nicholson has a good seed- 

 ling under trial. Some Gorgeous are 

 grown, but the color varies a great 

 deal. 



In addition to carnations, yellow mar- 

 guerites are here grown in quantity; also 

 Freesia Purity, the Godfrey calla and 

 mignonette. The last named is of grand 

 quality. Gypsophila repens is grown 

 in boxes, on shelves in the carnation 

 houses, and proves a profitable crop, 

 Spencer peas are grown on the posts in 

 the carnation houses. 



S. J. Goddard. 



At S. J. Goddard 's, Gloriosa as a 

 light pink is still retained, Mr. God- 

 dard says it has averaged as many 

 flowers per square foot as any carnation ' 

 he grows. Helen Goddard, while soriie-; 

 what small, is still grown as a rose-pink. ' 

 Rosette was looking well. Some Gor- 

 geous is also grown. Beacon and Cham-' 

 pion are grown as scarlets; Beacon 

 seemed the more prolific, but Champion 

 will be given another good trial. White 

 Wonder and White Perfection were 

 flowering with great freedom ; Matchless ' 

 also looked fine. Yellow Prince and 

 Yellowstone seemed equally good. ' 



Benora is grown as a variegated sort. 

 A pretty seedling in the way of the 

 old Minnie Cook was noted. Fenn is 

 the best crimson, on account of its re- 

 markable freedom, but Mr. Goddard has 

 several splendid, rich crimson seedlings 

 that we may expect to hear more of. 

 About 2,500 Alice will be planted the 

 coming season. Marguerites, both 

 white and yellow, are well grown here; 

 also English primroses, freesias, antir- 

 rhinums and a variety of other plants 



