October 5, 1907 



HORTICULTURE, 



441 



Roses Under Glass 



As the season I'or Ih-iug approaches, ventilating and 

 \vatering must be attended to with extreme care and 

 caution. The transition from natural to artificial heat, 

 -is the most critical period in the life of the rose and 

 any neglect, either from carelessness or ignorance, in 

 the administration of tlio essentials, ventilation, water 

 and temperature, at this season, will inevitably result in 

 trouble. 



With the ra]j)dly shortening days, it must be borne 

 in mind that evaporation is on the decline and stock 

 cannot use, with advantage, the copious supplies of 

 water necessary during the summer months. Eoot 

 action will also l)ecome more sluggish, and if the soil 

 is watered indiscriminately the stock will surely suffer. 

 Artiiicial heat affects the soil in the benches in an 

 entirely different manner from sun heat, and it will be 

 found "where the pipes are in close proximity to the 

 bench bottom'' that the soil underaeath is dry, while 

 the surface if apparently wet enough. This condition 

 calls for great care and watchfulness to keep the soil 

 imiformly moist and the roots from suffering. 



Syringing mast now Ije practiced on every favorable 

 opportunily in order to keep red spider in check. In 

 nearly every house there are places where, by reason of 

 extra pipes, headers, etc., heat accumulates, and the 

 plants so situated should receive special attention as 

 these are the breeding places of the pest, and, if allowed 

 to remain unmolested, will, in a very short time be- 

 come truly plague spots. 



Care bestowed on the ventilation, and guarding 

 against abrupt changes of temperature, draughts, etc., 

 will minimize the danger of contracting mildew. But 

 if this pest has gained access to the house a coating of 

 sulphur and lime on the steam pipes will soon erad- 

 icate it. 



There are several ways of preparing this mixture. 

 Some growers use only the sulphur and water; others, 

 instead of using water, dissolve the sulphur in linseed 

 oil, but what virtue there is in either method the writer 

 is unable to say, as the following preparation has proven 

 quite satisfactory to us, being at once economical and 

 beneficial, in that the sulphur sticks to the pipes and 

 gives off fumes until it is entirely dissipated. The 

 mixture is composed of quicklime, sulphur and water, 

 the amount of sulphur being determined by the extent 

 of the mildew contracted. Slake the lime in a bucket 

 used for the purpose, and when boiling, or disintegrated, 

 add the sulphur and mix thoroughlv, reducing with 

 water to the consistency of paint, lu severe cases of 

 mildew two parts sulphur to one part lime will prove 

 effective. For lighter applications use less sulphur. 



Disbudding should receive its full -share of attention. 

 To encourage the giowth of straight, graceful stems, 

 and substantial buds, all lateral shoots must be removed 

 while they are young and soft and not allowed to remain 

 until they are so hard that they have to be cut off with 

 a knife. Tying the plants neatly tc tiie stakes, so that 

 the whole presents htx appearance of symmetry and 

 grace, rather than the bedraggled condition in which, 

 unfortunately, we so often see them, will facilitate syr- 

 inging, and by admitting a freer circulation of air 

 among the plants give tone and texture to the foliage 

 and prevent the moisture from collecting on the lower 

 leaves, a most friiitfnl source of black spot and other 

 funet'^d di^cnse^. 



Forms of Euonymous radicans 



Editor HOKTICUITUKE, 



Dear Sir: — I wrote you last spring in reference to 

 the forms of Euonymus radicaus in common use for or- 

 namental planting (letter was published in your mag- 

 azine Vol. o, Page 372.) Since then 1 have found that 

 the three varieties I described have been classified and 

 described in Professor Sargent's "Trees and Shrubs," 

 Vol. 1, Page 129. Follovnng are the scientific names 

 under which they can be foitnd therein, and also Eng- 

 lish names tinder wltich T have sometimes found these 

 varieties described by a few horticulturists, gardeners, 

 etc. (These English names I think might be improved 

 upon.) 



]uiony]iius radicans, var. reticulatus (Rehder). Nar- 

 row-leaved Evergreen Creeper. 



Euonymus radicans, var. Carrierei (Nicholson). 

 Broad-leaved Evergreen Creeper. 



Euonymus radicans, var. vegetus (Eehder). Round- 

 leaved Evergreen Creeper. 



As there is considerable use made of these forms it 

 may be of interest to your readers to have these facts 

 brought to their attention, and it may help to establish 

 a more accurate knowledge of the forms in question, 

 something very much to be desired, among nurserymen 

 especially. 



Still other varieties have been classified and named, 

 but they are not so apt to be confused as the above. 

 "Very truly yours, 



Pyrethrum for White Fly 



Editor HoETicui.TUKE. 



Dear Sir: — Allow me to say a few v/ords in regard 

 to the article published in a recent issue about "Hydro- 

 cyanic Acid Gas for White Fly." 



This gas is certainly sure death to the white fly, but 

 it will also ruin the tomatoes and a good many other 

 plants if used in the proportions recommended. A 

 much safer way to get rid of the white fly is to fumi- 

 gate with Pyrethrum (or Persian Insect Powder, which 

 to all practical purposes is the same thing). 



Put a few handfuls of the powder on a saucer at 

 every 25 feet or so, put a few drops of wood alcohol on 

 and "light. It will burn itself out over night. Have 

 the house closed tight; fumigate for a few nights in 

 succession and repeat as often as a fly makes its ap- 

 pearance. This is very important, as the fumes will 

 kill the fly but not the larvae. Don't give the flies a 

 chance to lay eggs and there will not be any larvae 

 after a while. T have got rid of all the white flies in 

 my houses in this way without injuring anything 

 amongst a great variety of plants including orchids and 

 ferns as well as tomatoes and cucumbers. 



The fumes of the Pyrethrum are choking and rather 

 unpleasant but otherwise harmless to human beings. 



CUffoi}. N. J. 



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Naufjatiicl-. Conn. 



