288 



HORTICULTURE 



March 9, 1807 



Roses Under Glass 



III. 



POTTING 



A few days before the cuttings are ready to jDot, a 

 sufficient number of two-inch pots (this size being the 

 recognized standard for rooted cuttings) should be col- 

 lected and given a thorough cleaning, particular care 

 being taken to remove all of the old soil from the 

 inside of the pots. These, or as many as can be accom- 

 modated, should then be placed in a position convenient 

 to the potting bench. 



The bench intended to accommodate the young stock 

 should also be cleaned and prepared. Considerable im- 

 portance is attached to the selection of this bench. 

 Many growers, in their desire to economize are apt to 

 utilize the bench which has yielded the smallest and 

 poorest crops during the season, forgetful of the fact 

 that the conditions resulting in the failure of the old 

 plants to produce good flowers will in all probability 

 have a bad effect on the young stock. Stagnant air, and 

 poor light, etc.. effect conditions under which no rose 

 will thrive and it is absurd to suppose that where old 

 established plants have failed to do well, the young 

 stock will prosper. 



The future success or failure of roses depends to a 

 great extent upon the care bestowed on them in the 

 propagating bench and the period e.xtending over the 

 time they occupy the first pots. Therefore, we should 

 by all means place them on a bench where they will 

 receive abundant sunshine and air. In cleaning out 

 the bench it is not necessary to remove all the old soil. 

 On the contrary, leave in about two inches as this re- 

 tains considerable moisture and prevents the pots 

 from drying out as quickly as they would were 

 the bench empty. Furthermore, the soil thus 

 left brings the top of the pots on a level with the 

 top of the bench, facilitating syringing and permit- 

 ting the air to eireuhite freely among the foliage, thus 

 reducing the danger of contracting mildew, black spot, 

 and other diseases to which roses are subject. AVith the 

 addition of a layer of sifted ashes about one inch in 

 depth, placed there with a view to keeping the soil in 

 the pots free from worms, the bench will be ready for 

 the young stock. 



The soil left over from last season's planting will, if 

 it has been properly handled and cared for. be of the 

 right texture for potting. The decomposing matter 

 contained therein will have imparted to the soil a suf- 

 ficient amount of nutriment and any additional fer- 

 tilizer is unnecessary. Before it is placed on the pot- 

 ting bench, the soil should be sifted through a three- 

 quarter-inch screen. 



When lifting the cuttings it is advisable to take up 

 only a few at a time. The roots are far from being 

 elastic and if an attempt is made to spade up the entire 

 row at once many of the roots will be left in the sand 

 and the cuttings thus robljed will be slow to start in the 

 pots. 



When potted the roots of the cvitting should occupy 

 a position as near as possible aliout one-third of the dis- 

 tance Ijetween the surface and the bottom of the soil 



leaving two-thirds of the soil underneath for the roots 

 to work in. Too much importance cannot be attached 

 to pressing the soil down firm. Not to the extent that 

 it will bake when watered, but sufficient that when 

 turned out, the soil leaves the pot in the form of a 

 compact ball. Also, it is necessary to leave a space at 

 least a quarter of an inch in depth l)etween the surface 

 of the soil and the top of the pot to hold water. 



As soon as a box is filled with plants they should be 

 carried into the house, set on the bench, and v/atered 

 immediately. It is never safe to fill box after box and 

 leave them standing about the shed exposed to draughts. 

 The young, tender plants are very sensitive to sudden 

 fluctuations of tem])erature, and soon show the effects 

 of such mistreatment. 



The first watering should be thorough in the full sense 

 of the word. This is not meant to convey the impres- 

 sion that the soil must be reduced to the consistency of 

 mud, but it is essential that all the soil be uniformly 

 moist. 



For the first foui or five days lantil root action is 

 fairly established, the plants will require to be shaded 

 from the intense heat of the sun. But the same rule 

 ol3served in the propagating bench is applicable to the 

 plants in pots and the shade must be removed immedi- 

 ately on the sun ceasing to shine on the bench. 



^^ic^Sfc?-^^^^.^^:^/ 



Some British Favorites 



A proof of the continued popularity of the "Queen 

 of Flowers" in England is afforded by the prosperity of 

 the National Rose Society, which was founded in 1876 

 by the late Eev. H. Honywood D'Ombrain. The society 

 has a large and increasing membership, whilst its sum- 

 mer and autumn shows are among the most popular 

 events of the horticultural year. The society has ren- 

 dered useful service in publishing an annual, full of 

 acceptable and up-to-date information on rose matters. 



Mr. Edward Mardle)', the secretary of the society, 

 lias taken great pains in preparing a list showing the 

 number of times which the different varieties have been 

 shown during the period 1899 to 1906. The list is a 

 valuable index of the leading roses which find favor with 

 the chief exhi1iitors. The first dozen in order are: 

 Bessie BroAvn, Mildred Grant, Frau Karl Druschki, Mrs. 

 .John Laing, Ulrich Brunner, Caroline Testout, Dean 

 Hole, Kaiscrin Augusta Victoria, Mrs. W. J. Grant, A. 

 Iv. Williams, Mrs. I?. G. Sharman Crawford and La 

 France. The li<t includes seven comparatively new 

 Hybrid Teas and five of the older Hybrid Perpetuals. 

 Dean Hole, the subject of the supplement issued with 

 this number of HoRTicuLTnr.K, has come to the front 

 very rapidly, for it was only introduced in 1904. It is 

 a worthy specimen to commemorate the name of one 

 who labored so zealously in the interests of his favorite 

 flower. Dean Hole was one of the successes of the 

 Temple show in 1904 when Messrs. A. Dickson and 

 Sons obtained an award. In the same year they secured 

 a gold medal from the National Eose Society for the 

 best H. T. seedling in the show. It has proved itself 



