January 30, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



1«9 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



. CONDUCTED BY 



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

 by Mr. Ruzicka. Such communications should inrarlably be addressed to the office of IIOETICULTLKL. 



Care of Outside Roses 



Eveiy II i« aui.1 then iluriii;^- the winter months it 

 is advi.-ahl(> (o look over tlie beds of all outside roses 

 and see that mice are not at work eatino; off the roots 

 of the plants, and o-irding- them around the bottom. 

 This is very unlikely to happen where the plants axe 

 mulclied with well decayed manure. Should any mice 

 be in e\idence there ar« one or two ways to try and 

 poison them, ^^'e find that there will be little damage 

 done in this respect when there is only little snow. It 

 is only when snow lies deejj that these little rascals live 

 on the bark of the various trees and shrubs. 



Rooting Ramblers 



Tl you are short of certain varieties time can be 

 gaineti by taking a lot of cuttings now, cutting them 

 carefully into pieces about 3 inches long, being careful 

 to use a good sharp knife. If pruning shears were 

 used, these would not cut smooth enough, and a, good 

 many cuttings would be ruined as a result. After these 

 are made, put into flats filled with a niixtui-e of half 

 loam and half sand. With a little attention regarding 

 ■watering, these cuttings will root easily, and then they 

 will grow to a good size before next fall. If cuttings 

 arc not put in unttl spring, they will not grow into 

 good, size plants the first year, and where a little space 

 in the greculiousc can be spared, this is one way to 

 make the mo.st of it. 



Mulching 



^\■itll iKj promise of clear weather for some time 

 to come, wc would not recommend mulching the plants 

 very heavily. However they should not bo allowed to 

 suffer for want of a coarse protective mulch all along 

 the Oenches. We generally npply this wherever it is 

 needed, not mulching the whole house, Imt merely all 

 the bare places. We find that an occasional dusting of 

 boneineal, and licpiid manure as the plants need it will 

 take care of the plants much better, and the houses arc 

 much easier to handle than when a heavy mulch is 

 applied. Kcej) enough rough material nn the surface 

 of the lienchcs so that all the water will -tay "put" 

 when it is applied. 



Soot 



.\ little of tills a|iplied every now and then will go 

 a great ways in giving an additional color to the roses. 

 and should be a])plied about the time the buds arc be- 

 ginning to show color, and then again when the plants 

 are beginning to break freely. Do not apply too much 



of it at once, J'or not (Uily would it be wasted, but harm 

 to tiie plants may result. Apply just enough to blacken 

 the snrfacc of the benches. If lime had lieen used only 

 a short time before better delay the application of soot 

 until the lime is fairly well gone. If lime and soot 

 sliould come together while the lime is still active, the 

 liiuc will free a. large amount of the ammonia in the 

 soot» and this is likely to damage the foliage, if not the 

 blooms on the i)lahts. If liquid manure is used the soot 

 can be added to this, but as we generally have some 

 houses that will t«ko liquid but will not take soot, we 

 prefer to apply it dry to the benches and then water 

 it in. 



Lime 



Houses that luave become quite soft because of the 

 warm drdl \\-eather we have had in the vicinity of New 

 York the last t^^■o or three weeks, will be helped if they 

 get a light dusting of fresh air slacked lime. A little 

 experience with this will soon enable the grower to tell 

 just when to apply it. Do not use ground lime stone. 

 This may be all right for outside or for sod-heaps when 

 muck is used, but for general gTcenhouse and garden 

 use. it is far too slow in action. In the rose house, more 

 then anywhere, we need prompt action, and good fresh 

 home slacked lime will be tlie best to use. We buy it 

 locally by the barrel, and slack it by sprinkling a little 

 water into it. After it cools it is ready to use. In 

 sprinkling be very careful not to use too much water 

 111- rhc lime will be damp when you come to use it, and 

 nlthough this may he better for handling it when ap- 

 plying it to the benches, it will prove useless for dusting 

 and blowing under the plants after watering or syring- 

 ing. Do not get too mucli of it slacked at one time, 

 for if the lime lays down in the cellar unused, it will 

 get damp and lose some of its streng-th. It may also 

 form into lumps, and it would then be quite useless. 



Disbudding 



Tliero will be quite a cr.iji cuining on now in a great 

 many houses, and this operation should not be neglected 

 in (he lea.st, or the stock will be just a little bit off 

 ■luality. 'lYy and get all the energy of the plants into 

 the flowers, and not waste any on n.seless buds. This 

 .■hould be done about twice a week. Go over the plants 

 carefully, as doing these things by halves does not pay. 

 While disbudding, keep an e.ye open for spider, and also 

 Uw drv s]iots in benches, and for plants that may be 

 all cut off. The latter should receive a handful of lime, 

 and then ket'p the water away when watering unless the 

 plants need it very bad. 



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