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to 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



Mav 5, 1910. 



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SEASONABLE 



SUGGESTIONS 



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Show^ Pelargoniums. 



Show pelargoniums are now in fine con- 

 dition and, with proper care, should re- 

 main so for a number of weeks. While 

 not adapted for outdoor culture, nor per- 

 sistent bloomers like those of the zonal 

 "Section, the large, many colored flowers 

 are attractive on these pelargoniums, 

 and it is not surprising that exclamations 

 of delight arise from visitors who see a 

 good batch of them for the first time. 

 By keeping the plants cool, the glass 

 shaded ahd the atmosphere not too moist, 

 the plants will be in good shape for 

 Memorial day, at which time they sell' 

 well. Show pelargoniums make good 

 house plants if given a cool room. In a 

 close, stuffy apartment they will soon 

 drop {he flowers and become smothered 

 with green aphis. For window boxes, 

 which are pretty well broken from the 

 sun, they are quite desirable, a solid box 

 of one variety being effective. 



Carefully avoid any syringing over the 

 plants while they are in flower, or the 

 petals will spot badly. Also, in fumigat- 

 ing avoid the use of tobacco stems. One 

 dose of the latter will cause every petal 

 to fall. "Water, freely and use liquid man- 

 ure every fourth day. At this time no 

 propagating of show pelargoniums should 

 be done. The proper date is later in the 

 season, when the flowering period has 

 passed and the plants are ready for a 

 rest prior to being cut back. 



Asters. 



The early asters can now be safely 

 planted outdoors. The ground previously 

 should have be^n kept well harrowed. Con- 

 stant stirring of the surface kills many 

 weeds, as well as insect pests. In grass ^an'd 

 the cutworms often cause great trouble, 

 and the free use of the cultivator is one 

 of the best ways of lessening their num- 

 bers. There is still ample time to make 

 sowings of asters for late crops. These 

 will now do well outdoors. Seedlings 

 raised in the open are less spindly and 

 more likely to give good returns than 

 those coddled under glass. Always be 

 sure to have the balls of earth damp on 

 asters when planting them out, and for 

 that matter this applies also to all other 

 plants. Never allow anyone to plant 

 out any stock with dry balls, as, with a 

 succession of warm, dry days, many are 

 tolerably sure to die. 



Hotbeds. 



To get a rapid growth on coleus, achy- 

 ranthes, alternanthoras and other heat- 

 and-moisture-loving bedding plants, there 

 is nothing to beat a well made hotbed 

 BOW. Closed early in the afternoon with 

 plenty of moisture, the growth they will 

 make in a few days is astonishing. Al- 

 ternanthera, especially, revels under such 

 conditions and, if stock rooted is as yet 

 inadequate for one's needs, pull a lot 

 of plants to pieces, get them in flats in 

 a hotbed and their growth will surprise 

 you. Heliotropes, lemon verbenas and 



other plants which it is desired to in- 

 crease in size, if partially plunged, will 

 respond quickly when given a genial 

 hotbed in which to make their growth. 



Primulas. 



After the middle of May, primulas, 

 such as Sinensis, obconica and Kewensis, 

 are better grown in coldframes, where 

 they will be close to the glass. Some 

 shade will be necessary during the hottest 

 part of tlic day, but it is better to use 

 cotton cloth or lath shades, rather than 

 shade the glass. If the latter is done, the 

 plants will become drawn and soft. Pre- 

 pare a good bed of coal ashes for the 

 flats or pots to stand on. Give them 

 abundant ventilation and fumigate once 

 a week to keep the plants clean. Primula 

 seed wants a brisk, moist heat to germii. 

 nate, but the plants themselves should 

 never be subjected to any forcing condi- 

 tions, or they will become weak and puny. 

 Frost, dampness, harsh winds and bright 

 sun are all to be guarded against. It is 

 not too late to make a sowing to pro- 

 duce plants of Sinensis and obconica for 

 late winter and early spring sales, but 

 it is too late to get Christmas blooming 

 stock. 



Gladioli and Iris. 



The cool weather experienced over a 

 large portion of the country during April, 

 and the serious losses sustained on peo- 

 nies and' other hardy stock which are 

 usually to be had for Memorial day. 



added to the fact that some indoor crops 

 intended for the last of May cannot be 

 held back until then, make it tolerably 

 certfSin that all flowers will sell at ex- 

 celfent prices the coming Memorial day. 

 Tulips, narcissi and similar stock will all 

 be on the wane before that time, but, 

 among bulbs, the Gladiolus nanus. varie- 

 ties and Spanish iris are each desirable. 

 Flat culture is much the best for each. 

 Do not try any hard fovcing on these 

 bulbs; they do not like it. As they ex- 

 pand, if somewhat early, it is easy to 

 move the flats to a cold cellar, Or Cut them 

 as soon as the first flowers expand, plac- 

 ing them in a cool cut flower room. For 

 bouquet work and sprays few flowers can 

 equal these irises and gladioli. The large 

 flowered gladioli benched in February 

 promise to be in good crop for Memorial 

 day. Weather conditions are uncertain, 

 but it is possible to keep the spikes a long 

 time in a cold room. They should always 

 be cut as the first flowers open. 



Linum Trigynum. 



Although Linum trigynum is not as 

 much seen commercially as it might be, 

 this is a charming and easily grown 

 -greenhouse sub-shrub, and an old favorite 

 for conservatory decoration. It is bet- 

 ter known botanically as Eeinwardtia. As 

 the flowering time is midwinter, when 

 plants with golden yellow flowers are 

 scarce, they make a welcome addition at 

 Christmas and during the month of Jan- 

 uary. Basal cuttings are the best. These 

 root as quickly as chrysanthemums and 

 should be kept potted on and flowered in 

 5-inch or 6-inch pots for the following 

 winter. It is not too late to get in a 

 batch of cuttings now. Plants can be 

 carried over two or three seasons and do 

 well divided, using a compost of sandy 

 loam Avith some drj' cow manure. During 

 the warm summer months they can be 

 stood outdoors. Old plants can also be 

 planted out and carefully lifted. In this 

 way they make good sized specimens. A 



Groton Edwfn Lonsdale. 



