August 26, 1916 



HOBTI CULTURE 



281 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



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

 by Mr. Rnzlcka. Snch communlcatioiiB ahoald Inrazlably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTUBB. 



Mulching Early Planted Beauties 



Beauties that were planted early will have to be 

 miilched now to protect the roots from the hot rays of 

 the sun, and to give the plants plenty of plant food, as 

 it will be necessary to keep the soil rich all the time to 

 insure their growing properly. When the growth is 

 above the top wire, there has been a crop or two cut off. 

 and with the gi-owth that is on the plants it has made 

 quite a heap of stem, bud and foliage that came out of 

 the soil. The best time to apply the manure is when 

 the plants are starting for another crop and the new 

 growth is about half-grown. Some growers claim that 

 mulching will check the plants for at least a week, but 

 we have never seen any ill effects from mulching when it 

 was done properly. The manure should be well decayed 

 and should have been turned over at least once a week 

 for several weeks prior to applying it to the benches. 

 Before the manure is applied it is well to go over the 

 plants and clean them well, picking off all broken and 

 dead leaves as well as all the leaves on the bottom that 

 would touch the manure when it is applied. Then a 

 good top dressing of bonemeal should be applied and 

 rubbed into the soil gently. Do not allow the men to 

 scratch the benches over when they clean them or when 

 the bonemeal is being rubbed in. By no means allow 

 them to use scratchers made of steel as they are sure to 

 go too deep with them and destroy any number of real 

 nice roots that the plants need very badly. It is best 

 not to apply too much manure at one time, and then if 

 it should be necessaiT apply a little more later on. It 

 should be watered as soon as it is applied, which will 

 take out any heat that may be in it, and at the same 

 time wash most of the ammonia into the soil where the 

 roots will get it. If the benches are not watered right 

 after mulching the plants are likely to be burned. Need- 

 less to say, plenty of air should be carried and never 

 should the house be closed tight after mulching. Later 

 when the weather is cold a crack of air can be carried, 

 which will be sufficient to carry away any fumes that 

 may come from the manure. This applies to naiTow 

 houses, but the wide liouses will require about three 

 inches of air at least. 



Supplies and Coal 



It is quite some time ago that we recommended get- 

 ting plenty of all supplies on hand, and now with the 

 railroads being threatened by strikes all over the coun- 

 try we mention it again. We hope the railroads will 

 not be tied up but no one can tell. It takes quite some 

 time now to get anything as everything is crowded full 

 and freight moves slowly. Order the supplies now so 

 that there will be plenty of time for them to come be- 

 fore thev are needed. 



Tying 



When tying be careful to see that the plants are not 

 bunched up too much, as it is early in the season and 

 the plants would lose a lot of leaves and come to harm 

 that way. In "stringing" to wires see that the knot 

 used to tie around the growth is free and loose so that 

 there will be no danger from choking as the plant 

 grows and the shoots increase in thickness. To put one 

 string around a plant to tie in all growth is far from 

 proper. Each shoot should be tired separately and down 

 between the first and second eye. If this is done right 

 all over it will be a great help while cutting later on and 

 there will be less roses cut wrong and the cutting can be 

 done in far less time, as the string will serve as a guide. 

 See that the stakes are tied so that they will not slide 

 when the plants are syringed later in the season. White 

 cord should be used for this purpose and the knots well 

 tied so that the stakes will not move. Wliile the plants 

 are being staked, see that the stakes are all put in on the 

 same side of the plant so that they will be in rows, 

 same as the plants should be. With a little care this 

 can be accomplished very quickly and the work will look 

 like something when it is all done. 



Liming the Benches 



As soon as the soil begins to turn green badly in spite 

 of frequent stirring and care in watering it is a sure sign 

 that the soil is sour and lime will have to be used. If 

 any acid phosphate was added to the soil at planting time 

 the lime should not be applied unless absolutely necessa- 

 ry, as the lime will kill the acid phosphate and render it 

 worthless as plant food. With no phosphate in the soil 

 it will be an easy matter to apply a dose of lime, which 

 should be air-slacked lime or hydrated lime. If the for- 

 mer, see that it is fresh, but cool, as hot lime should not 

 be applied. It is not a veiT pleasant task at best and hot 

 lime will make it much worse. It will not be necessary 

 to apply a very heavy dose, just enough to whiten the 

 surface of the soil nicely. This can be rubbed around 

 a little bit after which the plants can be watered. To 

 save the hands it may be better to scratch the benches 

 over just very lightly before the lime is applied, after 

 wliich the plants can be watered without another rub- 

 bing over. The lime eats into all scratches very ra])idly 

 and where there is quite a little of the work to do it will 

 be best to rub the l)cnchcs over before the lime is applied. 

 If the soil shows acid at all it will be best to apply the 

 lime while the plants are still small, so that it will be 

 safe to work the soil over and there will be very little 

 danger of disturbing the roots. 



