April 12, 1913 



HOHTICULTUEE 



551 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



^ CONDUCTKD BT 



Questions by our readers In line with anj of the toplci presented on this page will be cordially received and prompt 

 by Mr. Buzicka. Such commnnlcatlons shoald iBTacUbly be addressed to the office of HORllLULiiuitis 



romptly aniwered 



Nitrate of Soda 



This fertilizer we always class among the stimulants, 

 and as far as plant growth can be considered, the very 

 best for promoting rapid growth with dark green foliage. 

 If used to excess it will either burn or ruin the plants 

 by making them grow thin and spindly, therefore its 

 use in the rose houses should always be limited to very 

 small doses in the form of liquid and then should only 

 be trusted to an experienced grower to be applied. We 

 like to add about a pound to each one hundred gallons 

 of water. We think it best to add it to the liquid manure 

 which can be applied quite freely at this time of the 

 year. However, we would not advise using nitrate with 

 each watering as it would be bound to make the plants 

 soft. Once in two weeks is quite sufficient. 



Lime 



At this time of the season when the plants are receiv- 

 ing considerable feed, and especially if a little nitrate is 

 applied as above mentioned, the plants are likely to be 

 a little soft in spite of the precaution taken by ventil- 

 ating properly. A little lime applied to the benches 

 direct or mixed in with the liquid manure will greatly 

 help in keeping the plants hard and more mildew-re- 

 sisting than they would be otherwise. Do not apply the 

 lime in any great quantity, but just dust the benches 

 over so that the surface appears white. It is much 

 better to apply a dose quite often and never a heavy dose 

 all at once. When it has to be a heavy dose it is best 

 to let the lime lie on the benches for two or three days. 

 This will cake the lime and it can then be rubbed over 

 and watered. This way the plants will not get all the 

 lime at once but will continue to absorb it as fast as 

 they require it, and no harm whatever can be done. 



Houses That are to be Planted Early 



In cutting roses in houses that are to be planted early 

 it is just as well to cut as far down as possible making 

 no allowances for eyes or joints of any kind. By doing 

 this, from one to three inches can be added to the stem 

 of the cut bloom, and you will find that the No. 2's are 

 nice No. I's, to say nothing of the increase in the re- 

 turns. All such feed as bonemeal should be discontinued. 



for if the soil is not used in the garden a large part of 

 this would be wasted. 



Among the Young Stock 



Keep your eyes open for fly and spider, for there is 

 nothing that will give the plants a more severe set back 

 than any of the two. Tobacco stems can be burned in 

 the houses containing young stock, and no harm will be 

 done to the plants if care is taken while fumigating with 

 the above. The drier the stems can be used the more 

 effective the smoke will be. We have used the stems 

 almost dry with no bad effect on the plants, but of course 

 we would not trust this to everyone. The main point is 

 to keep the stems from burning with a flame. This pro- 

 duces very hot smoke, and it is this that ruins the tender 

 foliage of the plants. Dry smoke is also much more 

 effective than steam laden smoke, and therefore it is 

 well not to fill the houses too full of it. Better smoke 

 lightly and oftener. With the many real good tobacco 

 papers on the market, especially made to make fumiga- 

 tion very simple, we hardly think it pays to bother with 

 the time-wasting method of using tobacco stems. Make 

 sure the plants are wet enough. It is well to fumigate 

 just the night before syringing, as the syringing will 

 finish many pests that have not succumbed to the smoke. 

 On bright^ sunny days the potted plants will dry out 

 quite rapidly and should be carefully watched, as if al- 

 lowed to become too dry they are likely to get a check 

 in growth from which it will take them weeks to recover. 

 The Repotting 



Do not neglect to repot the plants as soon as they be- 

 gin to crowd'the pots in which they are at present. You 

 do not want to begin the season with sickly stunted 

 plants. There are enough of troubles as we all know, 

 therefore let us not invite any more than what come un- 

 invited. Have the soil well enriched with well decayed 

 cow manure, and a little bonemeal, as has been advised 

 time and time again, and the plants simply have to 

 p-row, although too much bone is likely to destroy the 

 roots that come into contact with it. The last pottmg 

 should always be into soil that is especially prepared as 

 this shift prepares the plants for the bench, where the 

 season's results will be determined. 



by sowing early and giving the check prescribed we ap- 

 proximate the effect of two seasons' growth, desirable in 

 the case of the Globe artichoke but very undesirable for 

 onions, leeks or celery. 



Jerusalem Artichokes 

 This vegetable is not grown very extensively, but is 

 worthy of a place in most gardens as it is extremely 

 easy to grow, requiring very little care or attention and 

 can be kept on the same ground for years. Nearly any 

 piece of ground will do for this crop. Take medium- 

 sized tubers and plant them in rows three feet apart 

 with about eighteen inches between each tuber, covering 

 with five to six inches of soil. These artichokes will 

 grow so fast that weeds will not be much trouble. In 

 the fall the tops are cut down and the tubers are dug 



and stored like potatoes, leaving a portion of the small 

 ones for next season's crop. As a winter vegetable the 

 .Terusalem artichoke is superior to the turnip. The 

 white-skinned kind is more delicate than the purple. 



Special Mixtures for Raspberries and Strawberries 



To be applied now. 



Raspberries:— To every square rod apply, 6 lbs. super- 

 phosphate, 3 lbs. kainit, 1 lb. sulphate of ammonia. 



Strawberries: — To every square rod apply, 6 lbs. super- 

 phosphate, 6 lbs. wood ashes, 1% lbs. sulphate of ammonia. 



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