July 18, 1914 



HOKTICULTURE 



71 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



^ C'ONHrCTEU ISY 



Questions by oui- readers in lino with any of tlie topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Ruzioka. Sii.h communications should invariably be addressed to the utUce ot HOBPILUL,! UKii. 



The Boilers 



During tlie rush of plaiitiiiL;-, emptying and refilling 

 the benelies, it is a nice rec-ivatiou for the men to tackle 

 the boilers on a hot day and put them into shape for the 

 coming winter. If the boilers have not been cleaned as 

 yet, see that they are well cleaned and then oiled to 

 keep them from rusting too much. It is surprising how 

 much longer boilers will last if they are cared for during 

 the time they are idle, for when they are in use, and are 

 used right they do not wear as much as when they are 

 standing neglected in the cellar, allowed to rust and rust. 

 Any ordinary oil can be used for the purpose. Common 

 fish oil is as good as any where it is to be had. While 

 the work of cleaning is in progress it is best to look the 

 ijoilers over carefully, and make note of any new parts 

 that may be necessary. If any of the pipes are burned 

 through have new pipes made at once. It will be a while 

 coming, and when it does come it will be where you can 

 get it on a minute's notice. After it comes better try 

 and set all the pipes together to see if they will fit well, 

 for sometimes they have some expert plumber make these 

 pipes, and when vou come to put them together they will 

 all but fit. " ; 



Notes on Planting 



These have been mentioned quite often, and it will 

 hardly be necessary to go into them in detail. See that 

 the benches are well cleaned of all old soil, and then 

 washed out, thoroughly whitewashed with hot lime, to 

 which a little copper sulphate has been added. Clean 

 out under the benches so that there is no dirt for insects 

 to hide in. We generally — always in fact — do this twice, 

 right after the benches are emptied, and then about two 

 weeks after planting. Iron scrapers are especially made 

 for this purpose, and are not used for anything else. 

 The waste matter is scraped out into the walks, and then 

 wheeled out of the house. 



Tying 



When it comes to Beauties we would not advise tying 

 these at once. They will do far better if they are al- 

 lowed to lie around a little, for then they will break from 

 the bottom far more freely tlien they would otherwise. 

 They must not tie allowed to lie this way too long. Jiow- 

 ever, for that would prove injurious to the future of the 

 plant. Great care should lie tnken in tying Beauties the 

 first time. The buds that will produce the liest bot- 



tom will already be started, and if the plants are tied so 

 that these buds will lie hidden they will come out very 

 weak as a rule, and will never make up the plant that 

 they would if they were tied right. Do not tie them 

 too" loose to the wires, for they will slip around when 

 they are being syringed and will be more of a nuisance 

 than anything. It is not well to tie them too tightly 

 either, for then they will be choking as soon as the 

 growth that they will make strengthens a little bit. We 

 find that if we put the string around the wire three times, 

 instead of twice, it will help wonderfully in holding the 

 shoots in their places. We use good string for this, too, 

 the white string used in grocery stores, instead of the 

 common jute that is used later on. We do not like 

 raffia at all, although some growers claim it is cheaper 

 than string. We find that we can get more work done in 

 the same fime with string. With Teas no tying will be 

 necessary for a while, as the plants are better off m hot 

 weather if left untied, instead of being bunched up to 

 stakes. 



Ventilation 

 The past week has lieen a very trying one for growers 

 with summer flowering roses to look after. The warm 

 fogey weather which prevailed here in the East was very 

 bacf and to ventilate properly was no job for an amateur. 

 When it happens that way, try to keep the houses as cool 

 as possible without letting any of the fog in by opening 

 out the ventilators too much. Then dust the plants with 

 a mixture of one part of lime and two parts sulphur. Do 

 not put this on too thick, but just enough to show that 

 the plants have had something put on. This will help 

 prevent mildew and then as soon as the good weather 

 comes again, this dust can be washed off by syringing. 



Damping Down 



Although we never advocate damping down in the rose 

 houses, yet when it happens that a bad week- like the 

 last comes in the summer, it will be necessary to damp 

 down, and try to keep the houses as cool as possible to 

 prevent bad wilting, and perhaps burning of the tender 

 leaves. All feed should be left out during these dark 

 days and should not lie applied again until the weather 

 sets for good and clear. One day and a half will gen- 

 erally harden the plants to the sun again, and as soon as 

 this happens leave out the damping down again, for a 

 rose house is no place for such a practice, even though it 

 is necessary in the growing of nearly everything else. 



The Special Convention Number of Horticulture 



WILL BE ISSUED ON AUGUST 15 



This will be an issue of exceptional interest and will be widely circulated and widely read. Its value 

 as an advertising medium for all floral and horticultural material cannot be over estimated. S. A. F. 

 trade is always worth n special effort at Convention time. Send your order In early and it will have 

 our best attention. 



