STOCKS 
The photo at bottom was made at the most favorable 
season for flowering Stocks, early May. For this reason 
the flowers are so well placed on the stem. Mid-winter 
conditions tend to draw the growth, and this, of course, 
spaces the flowers farther apart, particularly if grown on 
a deep ground bed. 
Of the two distinct types of Stocks, the Non-Branching 
will be found distinctly more profitable, particularly for 
market growers. We are certain every retail grower can 
use some of this fine long-stemmed, large-flowered type to 
excellent advantage. The cultural needs of the two classes 
are identical and simple: Cool or moderate temperature, 
plenty of air, and clean soil. These points are funda¬ 
mental and must be provided if a profitable crop is to be 
produced. A night temperature of 55 degrees or higher 
will tend to make them come blind and worthless. 
The finest Stocks we ever produced were in a house 
that got down to 25 degrees on sub-zero nights. When 
well hardened, they will stand a surprising amount of 
frost. Stocks of all classes are worthless for summer 
flowering in our latitude because excessive temperatures 
force them into blind growth. Farther north, especially 
in Canada, they usually are all right in summer. Plenty 
of air is necessary to get a strong, stiff growth into Stocks, 
such as will not wilt after cutting. All of our Stocks are 
grown in old soil, but we find it necessary to sterilize it 
for each crop. For this purpose we depend entirely upon 
saturating our soil with 200-degree hot water. When this 
is done thoroughly, we find it quite effective for getting 
our soil into excellent condition for this crop. 
We know of two practical nethods of increasing the 
proportion of doubles in Stocks. One is the removal of 
weak seedlings, and this we find the most effective. The 
other is based upon the fact that when the edge of the 
leaf is wavy or inclined to be indented and broad, the 
plant will be double flowering. Smooth-edged and rather 
light, narrow-leaved plants will usually come single. 
WHEN TO SOW 
We have gradually advanced our earliest sowing date 
to the first few days in July, finding this safe in our lati¬ 
tude. If a raised bed and a 48-degree house are used, this 
early sowing can sometimes be flowered for Christmas 
under normal November and December weather condi¬ 
tions. The beds should be ready to plant a summer sow¬ 
ing into, two weeks after the sowing is made, for they 
grow rapidly at this season. Sowing of Stocks can be 
made at any time after early July and up to February 
15th in our latitude. A March 1st sowing will usually 
come blind or partly so for us. For more detailed grow¬ 
ing suggestions, consult the fourth or latest edition of 
your Ball Red Book. A circular fully covering our ex¬ 
perience with Stocks will be sent gratis on request. 
<*&#**& 
Mother's Day crop of our Ball White Improved No. 15. Paper-white, long-stemmed and strictly Non-Branching. Around 60 per cent doubles. 
[41 
Well-grown Non-Branching Stocks are a valuable sales attraction and incomparably fine for basket work. 
