.Tri.v 30, L903. 



The Weekly Florists' Review, 



349 



Seasonable Hints. 



During this warm weather, and while 

 we are hkely to have it comparatively 

 dry also, is the proper season for re- 

 pairing roofs, etc. A systematic and 

 thorough going over now will save a 

 lot of trouble and worry when the cold 

 fall rains and frosts begin. If the work 

 is left till September or later it can- 

 not be done in such an efficient manner, 

 as the wood is liable to absorb too much 

 moisture to allow the putty or nias- 

 tica to take a hold. 



Where the roofs are old and the put- 

 ty rotten, it is sometimes most profitable 

 t'o strip out the glass, clean and paint 

 the sash bars and reset. This involves 

 a little more time and outlay than patch- 

 ing does, but if the work is done care- 

 fully the roof will be tight and dry for 

 a year or two longer, and the better 

 quality of the cut and the satisfaction 

 obtained will amply compensate for the 

 increased outlay, as there are few con- 

 ditions which prove so unsatisfactory 

 to a rose grower as a leaky and 

 draughty roof. 



Another and less expensive way to 

 make an old roof tight is to run either 

 mastica or soft putty along the sides 

 of the glass, taking care to fill every 

 crevice. Soft English putty, with an 

 addition of one-fifth white lead anu 

 linseed oil and made thin enough to 

 run easily from the putty bulb, makes 

 an excellent and lasting job. 



Particular care should be taken to see 

 that the roofs are tight at the junction 

 of roof and gutter, as this is where the 

 cold air is most liable to pour in and 

 create the conditions most favorable to 

 the germination of mildew spores. 



This class of work is tedious and if 

 the weather is hot, very tiresome and 

 trying, and requires patience and care, 

 and it should be entrusted to none but 

 careful and painstaking help. Paint- 

 ing and a general renovating, if neces- 

 sary, should also be attended to while 

 the weather is good. Alterations and 

 repairing of piping, cleaning out boilers 

 and putting fire boxes in working order 

 should also have our attention. Ven- 

 tilators also should be examined and re- 

 adjusted if necessary. 



Having everything in good working 

 order before the cold weather com- 

 mences, will simplify the work and re- 

 duce it to the usual' winter routine with- 

 out friction. Ribes. 



CARNATION NOTES-EAST. 



Culture Under Glass. 



As soon as your plants are established 

 and all shade removed, your attention 

 will be directed towards their culture 

 under glass. Any attempt at the produc- 

 tion of flowers should be put aside for 

 some time if a variety is to be shown at 

 its best during the period when most in 

 demand. The object of early housing is 

 to produce that condition in the plants 

 whereby they will readily respond to de- 

 mands made upon them during the win- 

 ter months; consequently we must handle 

 them in such a way that no waste of 

 energy will occur, but rather that more 

 be added. 



In my notes of June 18 my ideas on 

 size of plants were given. I will further 

 state that a plant of this size in complet- 

 ing its growth in the bench gets so firmly 

 established by blooming time, also gath- 



. ,S, W Hi 



Fortune's Double Yellow Rose at Portland, Ore. 



(Photographed May 30. I'.i03, at home of Frederick V. Holn 



ers unto itself such a supply of energy, 

 that it is far ahead of one of the same 

 size housed a month or six weeks later. 

 By the same size is meant one taken 

 from the field equal to the size to which 

 the earlier housed one has grown. 



The check received in lifting has the 

 effect, of inducing buds to form before the 

 shoots have attained a desirable length 

 and to allow these buds to develop into 

 blooms, which arc inacticallv worthless. 



d the 



and a cluster of weak shoots. So then, 

 to obtain the best results we must plan 

 this operation to hit upon the happy 

 medium. 



Go over the beds twice a week, topping 

 only those shoots on which the buds have 

 reached a diameter of three-eighths of 

 an inch, and do not top more than two 

 shoots on a plant at one time. In about 

 a month, once a week will answer until 

 finally, as the blooming time draws near 

 and the stems grow longer, the operation 

 will cease. 



Each variety must be studied as to its 

 inclination in producing long shoots, also 

 judgment must be used by each grower 

 in meeting his particular needs. Fol- 

 lowing this system of topping is con- 

 ducive to the continuous blooming qual- 

 ity so much desired, while the topping of 

 every shoot on a plant at one time pro- 

 duces an opposite effect. 



Supports of any kind are best left 

 off for some time yet, as free access to 

 the soil should be had in keeping it 

 broken up. Care must be taken not to 

 disturb the roots by cultivating too deep- 



ly. Any plants showing the least sign 

 of stem-rot should be removed, together 

 with a good amount of soil around them. 

 We pot a quantity of each variety in 5 

 or 6-inch pots, for use in replanting any 

 losses. This maintain- an even stand of 

 plants, which always looks better and 

 pays better than to allow any vacant 

 spots in the bench. 



Geo. S. Osbokm. 



CARNATION NOTES-WEST. 



Syringing in the House. 



The question of how much to syringe 

 the newly planted carnations, and how 

 long to keep it up. is of great importance. 

 You should strive to keep your plafits 

 in good shape, with just as little syring- 

 ing as possible and each time you 

 svriiiL'e vou should use just as little wa- 

 tei as you can and do the work well. 

 Mr. Osborn said correctly last week that 

 you should not shoot the water straight 

 at the plants. Thnrw it up as high as 

 the roof will allow, in a Sne spray, and 



lei ii col lown in the shape of a mist. 



In that way the plants will get the bene- 

 fit of it and the soil will gradually dry 

 out enough so that it can be stirred 

 after a few days, and it should be done 

 just as soon as it is dry enough. Keep- 

 ing the soil on the dry side promotes 

 root action, and the plants should be 

 watered rather sparingly for a few 

 weeks, but you must not allow them to 

 suffer. 



I find that the third and fourth days 

 are usually the most trying on the 

 plants. After the second day the vitality 

 stored up in the plant is usually pretty 



