10 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



OCTOBEB 28, 1009. 



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Schizanthut. 



Schizanthus plants are something of a 

 novelty at Christmas, and, as many pur- 

 chafeers are constantly looking for some- 

 thing a little out of the common, a nice 

 batch of these in 6-inch pots, well flow- 

 ered, should sell easily. Azaleas, poin- 

 settias and Lorraines are the great 

 Christmas staples among blooming plants, 

 and anything different is always accept- 

 able. These early schizanthus plants are 

 now in a bright house, kept freely ven- 

 tilated, and have recently had a few 

 short, thin stakes placed in the pots to 

 keep the plants intact. For early use 

 S. Wisetonensis is much the best sort to 

 grow, owing to its dwarf habit and 

 floriferousness. 



Schizanthus plants are quick to fill 

 their pots with roots and want rather 

 frequent applications of manure water to 

 keep them of a good color. Twice a 

 week is not too often to afford it. These 

 plants are singularly free from insect 

 pests, but mildew will overtake them 

 speedily if they are sprayed overhead 

 and grow in a cold, draughty house. "We 

 like to pinch the plants to keep them 

 stocky. This pinching must now be dis- 

 continued where the plants are wanted in 

 flower early. The present is a good time 

 to make a sowing of seeds for Easter 

 flowering. Either drop two or three 

 seeds in small pots, or scatter thinly in 

 flats and pot off as soon as of suflicient I 

 size. Always grow schizanthus as near 

 the glass as possible. Tall, lanky plants 

 are not wanted at any price. A dry, 

 freely aired house, not over 50 degrees 

 at night, is what they need. 



Shamrocks. 



In something less than four months 

 the selling time for shamrocks will have 

 arrived, and after this date it is too late 

 to make any extra sowing or sowings and 

 secure good plants. A violet house tem- 

 perature grows good shamrocks. It is 

 a mistake to give them a warm house, 

 for in such they become spindling and 

 are an easy mark for thrips. On the 

 other hand, an excess of water on the 

 leaves is liable to start mildew. A happy 

 medium is one in which the little seed- 

 lings make fairly rapid headway. Pot 

 them off before they get crowded in the 

 flats. Soil such as you would use for 

 carnations or roses will do nicely for 

 them. 



Amaryllis. 



The foliage is gradually disappearing 

 from the amaryllis plants, which have 

 been kept on the dry side now for a 

 month. Let them have a dry, airy house 

 while any foliage remains on them. Aft- 

 erward they can be stored in a shed on 

 shelves until the time for repotting and 

 starting them arrives. We do not like 

 to rest the amaryllis too cool; 45 to 50 

 degrees is better than a lower tempera- 

 ture. Seedlings which have not yet flow- 

 ered should not be rested until after they 

 Woom. It is a common practice for grow- 



ers to rest even the young seedlings of 

 the current year's raising the same fall. 

 It takes three years to bloom the amaryl- 

 lis under this plan, while it will often 

 flower in eighteen months or even less 

 when not rested. A good plan with seed- 

 lings is to plant them in a bench con- 

 taining four to five inches of good soil 

 and leave them there until they flower. 



Hydraocfeas. 



Frosts will have blackened the foliage 

 on hydrangeas kept outdoors. If the 

 plants were rather dry at the root, the 

 leaves would be less affected. Those kept 

 moist, with green, sappy shoots, are killed 

 quickly and care must be taken or the 

 buds will be destroyed also. We like to 

 keep the plants out as long as safety 

 will allow, but covering is necessary on 

 sharp nights. If drier conditions are 

 maintained at the root, the foliage will 

 gradually fall and the wood at the same 

 time take on that russet brown color 

 which we always like to see, for such 

 plants we know will force well. It is 

 now a good plan to lay the plants in 

 pots on their sides to insure drier root 

 conditions. Let them be in the sunniest 

 possible place, and in case of a warm 

 spell happening along, it is easy by using 

 the hose to counteract too sudden drying 

 off, which would cause shriveling. 



Pansies. 



Pansy plants which are intended to 

 winter outdoors should be transplanted 

 right away, if this is not already done. 

 Some large growers sow rather thinly 

 and do not transplant. The extra labor 

 is well paid for, however, in the in- 

 creased vigor and stockiness of the plants. 

 Where the seedlings are to be wintered 

 in coldframes, the sash should not be 

 placed on them until the weather be- 

 comes quite severe, after which time a 

 light mulch of dry leaves should be given. 

 In the case of outdoor plants no covering 

 should be given until the ground freezes. 

 The winter loss should be small, provided 

 the land has a good slope to prevent 

 water standing, and the mulch can be 

 held over the plants more especially dur- 

 ing March and early April, which is the 

 critical time with outdoor grown pansies. 



Bulb Plantioc:. 



The ground is now in capital condi- 

 tion for bulb planting, and the work of 

 setting out tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, 

 crocus, etc., should be well advanced. 

 For another full month this work can be 

 done and excellent results follow, but the 

 latter part of October is a particularly 

 good time for it. The bulbs, when in 

 the soil, will speedily make roots, while 

 in boxes or bags they fritter away much 

 of their vitality. Leave the planting of 

 Spanish iris until November, as these 

 start into growth quickly when placed in 

 the soil. It pays to pulverize the soil 

 thoroughly for bulbs, and always avoid 

 the use of any but thoroughly rotted ani- 

 mal manure. 



Winter Geraniums. 



Plants of geraniums are not so often 

 seen at Christmas as could be wUhed 

 There is surely nothing finer at that sea! 

 son than a bushy scarlet or criniaoa 

 zonal geranium, a plant which apjieaig 

 to everyone and which will continue to 

 flower in the dwelling house when ; oin. 

 settias are leafless and Lorraines 'ave 

 dropped all their flowers. There i no 

 need now to pinch off any more fK,wer 

 stems. A few plants in bloom will j .ob- 

 ably sell at Thanksgiving, and the lal- 

 ance should be in first-class shape for the 

 last holiday in the year. 



Avoid the overuse of liquid stimulants. 

 These will give a healthy looking :jut 

 overgrown and soft plant, one which -\ ill 

 not flower nearly so well as those which 

 have had occasional top-dressings with 

 some highly concentrated and reliable 

 fertilizer. A night temperature of .10 

 degrees, full sunshine, plenty of fresh nir 

 and careful watering will build up tlie 

 plants wonderfully in the next few weeks. 



Gweopsfs Grandiflora. 



Lift a few plants of Coreopsis grandi- 

 flora and put them in 6-inch to 8-inch 

 pots, according to their size. Stand in a 

 coldframe, where they will soon become 

 established in the pots. Started in gentle 

 heat early in January, these give a fine 

 lot of flowers for cutting in spring, and 

 as the flowers can be cut with long stems, 

 keep well in water and are popular at 

 the stores, the plants will be found to 

 pay well. Another plant which can be 

 forced in the same way is Doronicum 

 plantagineum, the form Harpur Crewe 

 being perhaps the best. 



CANADIAN FLORISTS' SOCIETY. 



The Canadian Horticultural Associa- 

 tion will hold its twelfth annual conven- 

 tion at Toronto, November 10 and 11, 

 and a large and interesting meeting is 

 expected. The following program has 

 been prepared: 



First Day. 



WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 10— OPENING SES- 

 SION, 11 A. M. 



Address of Welcome The Mayor of Toronto 



Response Wm. Hunt, O. A. C, Guelph 



Reports of Secretary, Treasurer, Standing and 

 Special Committees. 



President's Address E. Dale, Brampton 



Discussion of President's Address. 

 Question Box. 



WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 10— SECOND SES- 

 SION, 2:30 P. M. 



"Native Flora" W. T. Macoun, Horticulturist, 



Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



"Grading Cut Flowers" 



Discussion led by J. A. Fraser, Prescott, Ont. 

 Question — Which are the most profitable lilies 

 to handle at Easter, why, and what treat- 

 ment has to be given the different vari- 

 eties? 



Replied to by Jos. Bennett, Montreal. 

 Question Box. 



Second Day. 



THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11— THIRD SES- 

 SION, 10 A. M. 



"Insecticides and Their Relative Value".... 

 Prof. Tennyson D. Jarvls, O. A. C, Guelph. 



"Transportation of Cut Flowers" — Discussion leil 

 by H. E. Phllpott, Winnipeg. (The Toronti) 

 gardeners and florists have promised that: 

 they will have one of the Toronto Expres:^ 

 agents present to take part in this discus- 

 sion. ) 



Question — What Is the best way to handle ali[ 

 varieties of roses grown In pots for Easter^ 

 — Replied to by George Robinson, Ontremont. 



Choice of place for next meeting. 



Question Box. 



THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11— FOURTH SES- 

 SION, 2 P. M. 



"The Trend of Public Taste" 



Franlc McKenna, Montreal 

 Unfinished Business. 

 Election of officers for ensuing year. 

 Final Committee Reports. 



