26 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



Decembeb 16, 1909. 



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Poinsettias. 



The bracts on the poinsettias are now 

 well developed and a slight lowering of 

 the temperature will be a benefit. Par- 

 ticularly is this the case with those grow- 

 ing in pans, a large proportion of which 

 will be called upon to do service in the 

 stores, where they must withstand vari- 

 able climatic conditions, and if they have 

 not been grown too warm during the last 

 stages of growth they will be less likely 

 to go to pieces when exposed to rather 

 low temperatures. The query, ' ' How can 

 I prevent leaves from turning yellow on 

 my poinsettias?" is easier asked than 

 answered. There are many causes of 

 yellowing foliage; the principal causes 

 are wide temperature fluctuations and too 

 dry or moist root conditions. An over- 

 dose of liquid or chemical food will also 

 speedily cause leaves to drop. 



A common query also is, ' ' How shall 

 I treat cut poinsettias to make them 

 last?" If cut and placed at once in 

 cold water, they do not keep well, but if, 

 as soon as they are cut, the bottoms of 

 the stems, bleeding profusely, are plunged 

 in jars of water of a temperature of 130 

 to 150 degrees, left there about five min- 

 utes and then placed in cold water in a 

 cool room, they will hold the leaves in- 

 tact for a number of days and not wilt 

 at all. Searing the ends of the stems is 

 sometimes eftectual, also plunging in 

 boiling water for a few seconds, but our 



experience has been that water at 130 

 to 150 degrees and then cold storage in 

 plenty of water is the best method for 

 keeping both leaves and bracts fresh and 

 firm. 



Primulas. 



Thanks to the unusually warm fall, 

 November being a record breaker for 

 mildness, primulas are much better in 

 flower than is usual at this season. Nice- 

 ly bloomed pots of primroses are never 

 allowed to go begging long at either 

 stores or greenhouses, and plants which 

 have been frequently spaced to prevent 

 the leaves crowding, and which have a 

 light position in a moderately warm, sun- 

 ny house, should now be in good shape. 

 Scarlet varieties, like Cheswick Red or 

 Crimson King, are the best Christmas 

 sellers, but there is always some call for 

 other colors. P. obconica makes a useful 

 plant at the holidays. The chief objec- 

 tion to its extended use is the fact that 

 the leaves poison many people and this 

 has given the plant a "black eye" with 

 quite a number. P. Sinensis does not 

 like liquid stimulants as strong as al- 

 lotted for other sorts. 



Freesias. 



It makes considerable difference in the 

 returns from the early batch of freesias, 

 whether they are in flower for Christmas 

 week or not. The quantity annually 

 flowered at this early season is compara- 



tively small, but the high prices pr, 

 vailing at that time are a temptation f . r 

 some to endeavor to bloom them. Spikes 

 must now be well advanced, with an ov^- 

 casional flower opening, to insure their 

 being on time. Do not let the tempera- 

 ture exceed 55 degrees at night at any 

 time; hard forcing completely spoils 

 them. Keep the latest batches cool and 

 water abundantly at all times while grovv-- 

 ing. 



Lilies. 



It is getting too late now to pot lon^- 

 iflorums and have them in flower for 

 Easter, as some would-be growers im- 

 agine. They will come along nicely for 

 Memorial day, when all good flowers seli. 

 Move the Christmas lilies into cooler 

 quarters as they expand and let laggards 

 have a hot, moist house with frequent 

 syringings. Easter longiflorums should 

 now be showing through the soil, or they 

 will be' too late. Do not try to force 

 them too hard until the pots are well filled 

 with roots. Formosas will not require 

 any forcing; a temperature of 50 to 55 

 degrees at night from now on will be 

 ample for them. Harrisii, where they 

 are being grown — and, owing to the early 

 date of Easter in 1910, more than usual 

 are being tried — will require a moder- 

 ately cool house and may require a little 

 retarding later. Remember that you 

 should be able to see and count your 

 lily buds before Lent comes in. 



Lorraine Begonias. 



Christmas is the great season for sell- 

 ing Lorraine begonias. It almost seems 

 as though more and more are grown and 

 sold each year, and, in spite of occasional 

 periods of glut in the plant market, they 

 hold a leading position still. Complaints 

 are often made of their shedding their 

 flowers in a couple of days when placed 

 in a warm room, but where they have 

 been gradually hardened off the plants 

 will bloom profusely all winter. Avoid 





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A Raffia Plant Receptacle with Pan, Can Be Used With Any Low Plants. 



