November 23, 1918 



H HT I C U LTDR E 



I 



Rose Growing 

 Under Glass 



With the war oxer ;U last crrowers will now take heart 

 and many get their "second wind" and go at it with 

 renewed energy. Happy are those who never for a 

 moment doubted the outcome of the struggle and went 

 right ahead as Ijest they could under many handicaps. 

 With no restriction as to use of soft coal for fuel, the 

 hardest of all the obstacles ha.-; been removed, and with 

 no further curtaihnent of lalxjr, greenhouses should 

 once more bulible with energy. Operating exjienses will 

 remain high as comijared with costs prior to the war. 

 liut this must l)e met vrith increased efficiency, stoppage 

 of leaks, elimination of all waste, and making each 

 square foot of bench earn its quota. This can oidy be 

 done by doing things right, and only the man who does 

 things right will be here, as the slipshod grower of 

 days gone by is fast disappearing. 



Early Propagation 



Some houses that are now closed up will have to be 

 replanted early, and it is not too early to start in to 

 propagate, in order to have a nice lot of plants on 

 hand. Care will have to be taken not to cut out too 

 much flowering wood, as this would curtail the cut of 

 flowers during January; however, by carefully going 

 over the plants enough can be secured to insure a suf- 

 ficient number of plants, without robbing the old stock 

 in any way. If not done a-s yet, get the propagating 

 house cleaned out and ready for the sand, then the sand. 

 and run the house or bench a day or two before any 

 cuttings are put in. In that time you will have time 

 to find out if there is anything wrong, and also time to 

 correct it vdth no danger of ruining any cuttings, which 

 otherwise might have been in the sand. Take as many 

 heel cuttings as you can get on the Teas. They are the 

 best, and will make larger plants in less time than any 

 other cutting. They will also produce plants -that will 

 break quite freely from the bottom as there is ah\ay- 

 many eyes around the heels of such a cutting. 



Soil 



Tliere is still time to put up enough soil for spring 

 use before the fall rains set in. ilanure may not be at 

 hand, but that does not matter for the sod can he piled 

 up anyway and a little bonemeal added, and a little 

 horse manure to introduce the necessary bacteria into 

 the soil and then the cow manure can he piled on top 

 of the sod heaps as soon as it arrives. Later the .-^oil 

 can he turned over as time will permit, and in this way 

 it can be worked into fine shape by the time it is needed. 

 In selecting sod, see that it is at least two years old, and 

 composed of good gra.ss, not weedy, if possible. Thou 

 l)low only about three inches deep, picking up the soil 

 with a fork only, leaving all the loose soil on the field. 

 This will make an excellent compost, at the same time 

 giving the field a chance to "come back." There should 

 be some oid sod hea]) left over and this should now be 

 hauled under cover, or else protected from freezing by 

 covering with straw, leaves, horse manure, anything that 

 will keei> frost out. and allow the team to set the soil 



CONDCCTED BY 



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Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics pre- 

 sented on this page will be cordially received and promptly 

 answjred by Mr. Ruzlcka. Such communications should 

 invariably be addressed to the office ol HORTICULTURE. 



when it is needed. Before covering up the heap, see 

 that it is graded so as to shed a large portion of the 

 water, and when applying the covering keep this sjime 

 tiling in mind. Al.«o see that the heap is left stiinding 

 on a well-draineil spot so that there will be no trouble 

 getting to it when the time comes. 



Pots 



Right now is the time to go over the pot racks ;uhI 

 see just what will he needed to take care of all the 

 young plants to be grown. It is not too early and will 

 give the pot manufacturers plenty of time to get the 

 ]iots to the grower before they are needed. 



Feeding Growing Plants 



Soon cold wciither w ill be heie to stay, and the plants 

 that are growing will stand quite some feeding. We 

 like best of all to use plenty of bone tankage, blootl and 

 bone in the fall of the V'Car. These fertilizers are not 

 stimulants and should a warm spell follow their use no 

 harm will result with a little care in ventilating. Have 

 the plants wet enough before applying feed of any kind. 

 Better water them first, then apply the feed and follow 

 this with enough to water in the fertilizer applied. Keep 

 the plants well hut not too heavily mulched to protect 

 the roots and to keep them all even in moisture and if 

 there is a house here and there having an exceptional!) 

 heavy gi-owth coming on, a Uttle liquid manure once or 

 twice a week will help it a whole lot. It is still early, 

 however, to use much liquid, and we would not advise 

 it onlv in rare cases, saving this form of fertilizer until 

 toward spring. When using this be careful, too, to have 

 the plants wet enough before any of it is applied, as it 

 is much worse for killing or setting the plants biwk 

 severelv than either iKniemeal or other fertilizers. A 

 good way is to water with clean water thoroughly and 

 then apply enough liquid manure to saturate the soil 

 without running only little through the bench. This 

 will make the liquid go a long way and will save many 

 a load of cow manure. 



Temperatures 



Xo doubt to save coal, houses have been run cooler, 

 and it will be well to continue this but not any cwler 

 than two degrees, say 58 for Beauties and 60 for Teas. 

 I f the bouses are run, too cool, no harm will come to the 

 plants only the cut will l)e light, and even lighter as 

 the dark diivs come, for luuls need heat to open. Do not 

 make tlie mistake to run the heat away u)) in the day- 

 time or shut the houses down too soon at niLdit, or I'ai 

 te cany air all night. Houses that are dry and well- 

 drained will get along without air much easier than 

 houses built over poorly drained gi-ound or where dra'n- 

 aiie has been stopped by accumulation of old .<()il under 

 benches. If this is the cii.se see that no water stands 

 under the benches, that small trenches are oju'iicd t<. 

 conduct it to the drains, and cut deeper trendic- be- 

 tween the houses to carry away all rain water, and helo 

 drain the ground over which the hou.ses are hnilt. 

 Then see tbat these, trenches are kept open. 



