24 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



NOVBMBBB 14, 1907. 



tion and carelessness in the application 

 of ventilation, causing draughts. To 

 remedy this condition, apply the sulphur 

 mixture to pipes twice a week and shut 

 the ventilators during the coldest hours 

 of the morning for a couple of hours; 

 and apply the sulphur in the powder 

 form once a week. Eibes. 



RAMBLERS FOR CHRISTMAS. 



I have about twenty-five strong plants 

 of Baby Bambler rose in 8-inch pots, 

 where they have been growing all sum 

 mer. The Avood is pretty well ripened. 



How should these be treated so as to be 

 in bloom at Cbristmasf J. B. 



It is now too late to start your plants 

 and have them flowering at Christmas. 

 I have seen a few of these roses at the 

 holidays, but they were merely a ghost of 

 what they ought to be. These roses will 

 sell much better toward Easter and it 

 would be better for you to lay your 

 plants on their sides and start them 

 early in February for an Easter crop. 

 The latter holiday comes April 19 next 

 season. C. "W. 



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SEASONABLE 



SUGGESTIONS 



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Poinsettias. 



If the stock of that brilliant and ever 

 popular Christmas plant, the poinsettiu, 

 has been given a temperature of 60 de- 

 grees at night, the bracts will now be 

 starting to develop. The present is a 

 critical time with them, as a little neg- 

 lect will spoil your chances of securing 

 good flower-heads. Liquid manure may 

 be applied every fourth or fifth day, tak- 

 ing care not to give it in too strong 

 doses. Use a little soot or nitrate of 

 soda with it to keep the foliage a dark 

 green color. This applies more espe- 

 cially to plants in pans or pots, which 

 are well rooted. Those in the benches 

 may also need a little stimulant. Try 

 to keep good foliage on your plants, 

 which means a neither too wet nor too 

 dry state at the root. 



It is now getting late to make up pans 

 unless you happen to have a few in small 

 pots. Even in this latter case it will be 

 better to let them develop their bracts 

 before placing in pans. Use some small 

 nephrolepis, pteris or Cyperus altemi- 

 folius in making up the late pans, to 

 cover up any nakedness and give the 

 plants a more furnished appearance. 



Gardenias. 



Gardenias continue to grow in popu- 

 larity and there is scarcely a day in the 

 year when they are not obtainable at 

 some of the better-class flower stores and 

 commission houses. Plants in pots which 

 were rooted last spring or early summer, 

 should give some nice flowers from 

 Christmas onward. A temperature of 

 65 degrees at night is about right, 

 and a spray nozzle should be attached 

 to the hose at least once a week to keep 

 mealy bug in check. Pinching ought to 

 be discontinued on pot plants, but may 

 still be necessary on bench plants where 

 a heavy spring crop is wanted. Use care 

 in watering the benches. Too much mois- 

 ture will cause a loss of flower buds more 

 quickly than dry conditions. The leaves 

 should always be of a dark green color. 

 Keep the' soil well stirred. Let it dry 

 well before watering and if any signs of 

 yellow foliage appear apply soot water 

 to counteract it. 



Crotons and Dracaenas. 



Crotons and dracsenas are being used 

 a little more each year, although tho 

 majority of florists never handle them. 

 They need more heat to do them well 



than the average trade grower can usu- 

 ally afford them. As firing increases, 

 thus ensuring more heat for the propa- 

 gating bed, both plants can be rooted 

 easily. It is no use trying to do this in 

 a house kept any lower than 60 de- 

 grees at night, 70 degrees being bet- 

 ter. Keep them moist and well shaded 

 and they will root surprisingly fast. 

 When nicely rooted, pot off and keep in 

 a warm, moist house until well estab- 

 lished. While tops make the best plants, 

 if you are anxious to increase your stock 

 of any of the colored dracaenas, you can 

 also cut the stems in small lengths and 

 lay in the propagating bed until the 

 little shoots appear above ground. 



Pandanus, 



The side shoots or suckers from Pan- 

 danus Veitehii and the newer but less 

 attractive P. Sanderi, taken off now and 



overwater those in pots and keep any in 

 flats or sand just moist enough to pre- 

 vent shriveling. These latter make grand 

 fibrous roots and grow rapidly when 

 potted up and kept in warmth. 



LiUes. 



The buds on lilies wanted for Christ- 

 mas should now be plainly seen. The 

 sunlight is decreasing each day and 

 only 70 degrees at night will make 

 your lilies come on in season if at all 

 backward. If the buds are beginning to 

 droop you are all right and need not 

 force too hard. Look out for aphis. 

 Dropping a little tobacco dust over the 

 tops of the plants is quite effective, but 

 fumigating each week is the best pre- 

 ventive. 



Probably the bulk of your plants in- ' 

 tended for next Easter are potted and 

 these should now be pushing above 

 ground. Be careful not to water too 

 freely until the pots are full of roots. 

 As the mums retire from the field, the 

 lilies can be brought into some of the 

 benches vacated. 



Dutch Bulbs. 



The late arrivals of Dutch bulbs are 

 now at hand and no time should be lost 

 in getting them into the soil. Earlier 

 potted batches of tulips, narcissi, hya- 

 cinths, etc., should be looked over and 

 they will probably be found somewhat 

 on the dry side. Let them have a good 

 soaking, for there is no more fertile 

 cause of Dutch bulbs failing than dry 

 conditions at the root. Cover with loam, 

 ashes or some otl^r material after this 

 watering, to prevent the roots from 

 throwing the soil out of the pots. Do not 

 make the mistake of trying to force 

 these when just above the ground. 



Rambler Roses. 



The canes of Bambler roses should now 

 be getting well ripened if the plants 

 have been laid on their sides as previous- 

 ly recommended. Leave them outdoors 



This is the Poinsettia that Sells. 



inserted in the propagating bench of a 

 warm house, will soon root and make fine 

 stuff for sales a year hence. Keep them 

 well soaked with water and, if your 

 drainage is good, they will not be long 

 in making roots. The old plants will 

 prove useful for supplying further cut- 

 tings a year hence. 



Bedding Geraniums. 



As the mum season is already on the 



waue, you will soon have additional room 



to spread out your little geraniums, 



which will now be growing well. Do not 



as long as possible, but put them in a 

 cool pit or light shed or cellar, where 

 there will be no possibility of frost 

 breaking the pots. Similar treatment 

 will answer well for hydrangeas, the foli- 

 age on which is now almost gone. Finish 

 potting up any stock you want to force 

 for Easter. It will not be so good as 

 plants grown in pots all summer, but still 

 many growers adopt this plan and have 

 quite good success. 



Brief Reminders. 



Get hardy lilies in the ground before 



