August 3, 1918 



HORTICULTUEE 



Rose Growing 

 Under Glass 



CONDUCTED BY 



Questions bv our readers in line witli any of tlie topics pre- 

 sented on tliis page will he cordially received and promptly 

 answered by Mr. Ruzicka. Such communications should 

 invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Fumigation 



],(i.<L' iiu upportuuity to t'umiuate the liouses when by 

 chance the temperature drop.-; below 70. Right up to a 

 few davj; ago this was a very simple matter as the morn- 

 ings were nearly always very cool, and all houses could 

 lie easily cleaned of fly. Now, however, things have 

 turned around and there will hardly be a relief from 

 hot weather until the middle of August or even later, 

 so smoke the fly out if there is any around. Mind well 

 to have the plants wet enough at the roots, and use 

 tobacco or nicotine papers, rather than gas during the 

 summer months. Aim to syringe right after fumigat- 

 ing, as there will be plenty of fly that will not be quite 

 dead, and if these are syringed off tlie plants into the 

 walks or under the benches there will be an end to 

 them. If tobacco stems are used see that they are not 

 used too wet as the smoke from overwet stems will be 

 largely steam and will not be very effective. Be care- 

 ful, however, not to have the stems bum with a flame 

 as this would make hot smoke wbich would be almost 

 sure to burn the foliage of the roses. When about to 

 fumigate a house that is cutting, cut a little tight the 

 night before, as the roses cut the following morning 

 would 1)6 bound to have a bad tobacco smoke smell, and 

 if they are cut a little tight the smoke will not pene- 

 trate into the tighter buds that are left on the plants. 

 Better not use any stems in houses bearing roses as 

 this would almost surely hurt the cut blooms thus depre- 

 ciating their value, and nothing like that must happen 

 now with prices low as they are. 



The Boilers 



Now that the weather has settled down to being hot 

 anil the houses can run along without heat, see that the 

 lioilers receive their overhauling. It will not pay to 

 neglect them for coal will be scarce and bigh so see that 

 all boilers are in repair to run to 100 per cent. See 

 that all smoke pipes are overhauled and any weak spots 

 or ])laces that have rusted through are replaced with 

 new pipe. A good way to do when several boilers are 

 in use using same size pipe is to take pijje from one 

 boiler and use it to patch pipe on all the others then 

 e(|uipping one boiler with new pipe altogether. This 

 will lie good for a number of years, thus saving the 

 work of fitting and setting up pijies yearly as would 

 liap]X'n if old pipe and new pipe were patched together. 

 See that the grates are in repair, and that they will be 

 suitalilc to the fuel W'hich will have to be used this com- 

 ing winter. Clean out all flues well, and with steam 

 lioilers take out the manholes and get as much dirt oft' 

 the flues as the limited space to work .in will allow. 



See that all scale is removed from inside the boiler, for 

 if it is allowed to lay on the bottom, it will form a crust 

 thus keeping the water away, and as this part is exposed 

 to the hottest fire, it will be sure to burn and weaken 

 and if high pressure steam ha.s to be carried, is liable to 

 blow out. See that the stationary grates are properly 

 cleaned of all melted clinker, for there is nothing that 

 will choke the fire quicker than clogged grates as no air 

 can get through. If poor fuel has to Vie used, this will be 

 even worse as it will stick all the harder to the grates. 



Coal 



Standing at a railroad crossing the other day a long 

 freight of coal cars went by, the cars being heaped full 

 and well down on their springs. Some one is getting 

 coal, and we hope no florist will fail to get his share, 

 and to get it now a.s there may be poor chance later. 

 The roads are nice and dry now, too, and many teams 

 not so, busy after the s]iring rush. So haul coal and 

 more coal. Growers with acres of wood would do well 

 to lay in a good stock cut into lengths suitable to burn 

 under the boilers. Do not neglect to get all the old 

 railroad ties if near a railroad doing a lot of repair 

 work. These can usually be bought for a song, and 

 time and time again they are burned in heaps to get 

 rid of them. Cut into halves they certainly make ex- 

 cellent fuel for boilers. They must, however, be stored 

 or piled so as to keep them perfectly dry, as they cer- 

 tainly can absorb a pile of water and this will not burn. 

 In stacking these or wood, see that plenty of space is 

 left for air to circulate, and with wood see that all 

 sticks over 3| inches in thickness are split, otherwise 

 they will not season I'ight and be almost useless as 

 fuel, being better fit for a smokehouse. Pile real 

 handy as near as your insurance man will permit. Be 

 careful about piling soft coal in closed cellars as it is 

 liable to spontaneous combustion. Better pile all soft 

 coal out in open, but handy to get at. 



A New Pest 



With all the other pests that are enemies of the rose, 

 we never thought there could possibly be any more, but 

 we were wrong, as to our surprise we have seen some 

 rose plants in the greenhouse badly infested with scale. 

 This was not the small scale of the San Jose species but 

 some large scale resembling potatcf beetles in shape 

 although much smaller of course. As long as this pest 

 has appeared in one place there are other places where 

 it may be, and if not taken in hand on time will spread 

 so as to be beyond control, and the plants would be 

 ruined no doubt before the grower would discern what 

 is wrong. Look over the plants carefully and if there 

 is any scale present it will surely show on the older 

 wood, especially around the base of the plants. As for 

 remedies. Syringing is the only thing we would suggest, 

 a good pressure applied where needed will soon clean 

 them out, but if any scale is present do not neglect to 

 iiet rialit at it and not uive it any peace until it is done 

 for. 



