December 6, 1913 



HOBTICULTUBE 



767 



ROSE GROWING UNDS^ GLASS 



^ _ CONDUCTED BY 



Questions by our readers in line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Ruzicka. Such communications should liiTarlably be addressed to the office of HOETICULTljKB. 



Disbudding 



jSTever neglect to go all over the plants at least twice a 

 week and see that they are properly disbudded. There 

 is considerable loss of strength and energy where plants 

 are allowed to go undisbudded for a time, and that will 

 mean smaller buds and the reducing of their quality. 

 It is best to set aside certain days for this work, — say 

 every Tuesday and Friday. If this is attended to on 

 these days regularly, then there will never be any neglect. 

 Collect all the buds that are cut off and put them away 

 in the garbage can and not along the edge of the benches 

 every here and there as is the custom with many grow- 

 ers. If that is done there will be no place for bugs 

 to hide and breed. Anything that is green and has no 

 poison on it makes excellent food for the various insects 

 that infest the rose benches. 



Syringing 



With the darker days already here there will be more 

 danger in syringing the plants, and growers who have 

 kept their stock nice and clean from the very start will 

 now have something to be proud of and very thankful 

 for. There is something in knowing when a dark week 

 comes that your plants are not likely to be eaten up by 

 red spider just because you cannot syringe. When clear 

 weather arrives, syringe as clearly in the morning as the 

 temperature in the houses will warrant, this being 

 usually around nine o'clock. As has been stated in 

 these columns before, try to syringe so as to throw the 

 water into the walks as much as possible, for this has an 

 advantage in more ways than one. Not only will it keep 

 all the surplus water off the bench, but it will also keep 

 what spider has been taken ofE from getting back on the 

 benches. It will also knock all or rather most of the 

 yellow leaves into the walks where they can be easily 

 swept up with the broom instead of having to be picked 

 by hand from the benches. 



Shaking the Plants 



After a good syringing the plants should be well 

 shook to take off all the water that will drop and thus 

 help to dry them. A stick with a groove in it that will 

 take hold of the wires will be all that is necessary in the 

 line of tools. Plants that are on stakes can be tapped 

 lightly with the stick, to take off the water that is hang- 

 ing to the leaves. This should be done as soon as the 

 house is syringed, for the noon sun will then have a 

 chance to take away the balance of the moisture. 



Ordering the New Pots 



As the potting season will soon be here there is noth- 

 ing better than going over your supply of pots to see 

 just what will be needed in this line. Then with the 

 figures all down it is easy to order the necessary number, 

 and the right sizes. Better get them in early and you 

 will be sure of having them on time. 



Liming the Benches 



Benches that have received a coat of lime earlier in the 

 season will now need another as likely as not, and little 

 harm will result if it is applied a little too soon. The 

 plants will take it as they need it and there is little 

 danger of their getting too much of it. We like to 

 apply the lime to the benches and then leave it for a 

 little while— say three or four days — if the plants do 

 not have to be watered in that time. The lime will then 

 cake a little, and remain on the benches for a long time 

 and the plants will take what they want of it, for with 

 each watering a little of it will be dissolved. Do not 

 neglect to loosen up all the flat thin cakes that form 

 over the surface of the soil, for these will not let water 

 through, and will also exclude air to a considerable ex- 

 tent. Scratch these over very lightly so as not to dis- 

 turb the roots and then let them stay. Needless to say 

 tlie lime should be air-slacked and if it is freshly slacked 

 in the cellar with the aid of a sprinkling pot, run it 

 through a fine screen. Not a very pleasant job, I am 

 sure, having done it many a time, but it is best for the 

 welfare of the plants. 



Supply of Bonemeal 



Like pots, bonemeal is very essential to the growing of 

 young plants and growers should see that there is 

 enough of it on hand to mix into the soil at potting time. 

 It should be as fine as it is possible to get it, and should 

 be thoroughly mixed into the soil when it is used. 



Stock Houses 



As soon as you decide which houses are to be taken 

 out to make room for the young stock, begin cutting the 

 buds right down to the hard wood without leaving any 

 eyes, and getting just as much stem as is possible. Two 

 eyes left on the plants are not very much, but it is 

 enough to make a No. 1 out of a No. 2, etc., so there will 

 be a little gain by cutting the blooms away down. This 

 of course would not do where the house will continue to 

 grow on for there would soon be no wood from which to 

 cut. 



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