March 18, 1916 



HORTIOULTUHB 



ROSE GROWING UNDER 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 Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTUEB. 



The Rose Growers' Garden 



Nine times out of ten the rose growers' home is lo- 

 cated far from town, friends, and often neighbors, and 

 although the inexpensive auto has done a great deal to 

 make life more cheerful a good garden will brighten 

 things up still more. It is nice recreation after a day 

 in the rose houses, to put in an hour or two in the gar- 

 den. Not only can a great many nice vegetables be 

 grown but fruits and flowers as well. The latter should 

 not be overlooked as there is nothing nicer than a 

 bunch of flowers on the dinner table, or in the different 

 rooms. A bed of roses will furnish cut blooms for the 

 house away into November and there are many pretty 

 annuals and perennials that can be asily growTi, adding 

 greatly to the attraction of the home inside and out. By 

 utilizing odd spaces in the greenhouse here and there 

 plants can be started early and with a continuous sup- 

 ply of vegetables, flowers and fruit the cost of living can 

 be greatly reduced, leaving much more to be spent on 

 other pleasures, books, travel, church, etc., to say noth- 

 ing of the saving in doctor bills. It is time now to see 

 that all the grape vines, fruit trees, gooseberries and 

 other small friiits are pruned so that they will not waste 

 a good deal of energy by putting strength into wood 

 which is later removed. The grapes especially will need 

 attention early, for if pruning is not done real early 

 the grapes will bleed badly. Fruit experts tell us that 

 it does no harm and that all the plants kt go is water, 

 but I would rather see the grapes pruned early so that 

 they will not bleed. Later they should be tied up prop- 

 erly and all perennial weeds removed, and if a bench of 

 roses is taken oiit to make room for newly potted stock 

 take the soil to the garden and see that it gets a good 

 coat. A good coat of manure should be given, which 

 can be horse manure, as this is easier to get as a rule. 

 Prepare the soil with the same care that you do the 

 soil for the best roses and there will be no disappoint- 

 ment when it comes to reaping the harvest. The lawn 

 and shrubbery will need attention too, as will the paths 

 and walks. Do not forget several nice bird liouses, for 

 without birds there seems to be something missing in 

 every garden. Oh shucks ! some one will say I see all 

 the flowers I want to in the greenhouse ! Very true, 

 no doubt, but how about Mrs. Rose Grower? Make it a 

 point to have a nice garden this year with plenty of 

 vegetables, flowers and birds, and see if you and yours 

 do not feel younger at the end of the year instead of 

 older. 



The Ventilators 



^Vith very severe weather such as we have been getting 

 lately it has been necessary to keep the fires going for 

 quite a while in the morning to keep the houses up to 

 their temperature. Now, however, with spring almost 

 here the days are bound to be warmer and it will be 

 necessary to stop the boilers early in the morning or 

 the houses would get too hot. Air will also have to 

 be put on much sooner and as the houses will go up 

 much quicker it will be necessary to see that the vents 

 are looked after well and air applied often enough. 

 Were the temperature allowed to run away up the plants 

 will soon become soft and likely get a touch of mildew. 

 At night it will be advisable to keep the vents open a 

 little bit until after the sun goes down, especially on 

 houses that are in good order and are tight. It will 

 soon be best to carry a crack of air all night but it may 

 be too cold for this for a while to come yet. -As soon 

 as the thermometer outside does not drop below 40 the 

 air at night will help keep the plants healthy. Of 

 course it should only be carried on clear nights, shut- 

 ting the houses down on wet, foggy or windy nights. 



Temperature for Keeping Roses 



Mr. 



Arthur Rusicka. 



Dear Sir: — Will you kindly tell me the correct 

 temperature an ice hox or refrigerator should be to keep 

 roses until they are shipped? Thanking you for past 

 favors, 



Yours truly, J. H. 



Oneonta, N. Y. 



Between 45 and 50 degrees F., is what our ice box 

 generally stands and we think this is plenty cold enough 

 to harden the roses before they are .shipped to the mar- 

 ket. As a rule it is best to ask the dealer to whom they 

 are shipped as he can tell better, knowing just in what 

 condition the roses arrive and what they have to go 

 through before they are sold to the consumer. If the 

 roses are kept too cold it seems to stop the stems taking 

 water and if the roses are brought out into a warm room 

 directly after they come out of a very cold box they 

 will wilt right down, until such a time as the stems be- 

 gin to take water again. Rather than run the ice box 

 very cold we would cut the roses a shade tighter and 

 keep the ice box around 48. The water will then con- 

 tinue to draw up and if the temperature does not go be- 

 low this, but rather above, the buds will continue to de- 

 velop, but not to open. 



NEXT WEEK — SPRING TRADE SPECIAL 



If you want to make new business get your ad in this issue for it will be a TRADE PULLER. 

 Copy should reach us by Wednesday, March 22, and as much sooner as possible. 



