108 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



the conditions on a windy day. Side ventilation is excellent, es- 

 pecially during Summer or at times when you need all the ventila- 

 tion you can get. The better ventilated your houses are, the better 

 stock you can grow and it all sifts down to the question of "getting 

 the maximum amount of circulation of air without exposing your 

 plants to cold." 



T 



SHADING 



HERE is one thing we haven't as yet got to quite suit us and 

 that is a method of shading that can be used for most purposes. 

 Nor can we hope for much in this direction, as almost everything that 

 needs shade while under glass needs a different kind. 



Each grower, almost, has a different way of supplying shade. 

 With all of them, whitewashing the glass either lightly or heavily 

 is found most suitable for certain crops. Cheesecloth on wires 

 over the cutting bench, and shade frames made out of laths and 

 1- by 2-in. strips for small houses or frames, still lead. Some growers 

 use effectively whiting and oil for a more permanent mixture or 

 frosted glass for palm houses. But you can't mention any one 

 kind of shading that will do for all kinds of plants, or for any one 

 class of plants at all times of the year. 



A Ught whitewash is easily applied to a roof with a sprayer and 

 is almost as easily removed. That is what makes it a most desirable 

 shade for the retail grower; if removed by a heavy rain, it is but 

 Uttle trouble to put on another coat. 



Cuttings in the sand don't ever want to be kept dark, yet the 

 sun must be kept away from them until they are rooted. Cheese- 

 cloth or other lightweight cloth seems to do this to perfection, 

 and if you can fasten small rings along the edge of the goods and 

 stretch wires just over the bench or right under the glass, you will 

 find this far better than laying papers over the cuttings, and 

 having them fly all over. Few flowering plants need shade dur- 

 ing Winter but bulb stock, of course, not only needs shade, but 

 also should go into a cool place. Primula obconica is a plant that 

 needs moderate shade to be at its best, but Cyclamen, Chinese Prim- 

 ulas and Cinerarias don't need shade as long as proper ventilation 

 is given. Any of these plants during Midsummer cannot stand fuU 

 sunlight, but heavy shading would be just as wrong. Just enough 

 shade to keep the foliage from wilting is the thing. 



Palms can stand a fair amount of shade practically aU the year 

 around. Ferns Uke shade, but not so much as to produce a soft, 

 weak growth. 



A little shade for small seedlings is nearly always of benefit, 

 but with most flowering plants, it should be given only until the 

 plants are hardened off a little. With the seedling small table 



