August 24, 1912 



HORTICULTUEE 



265 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



Cyfiy(^A/^^<^Ji--<^ 



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

 by Mr. Ruzlcka. Snch communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Beauties in Solid Beds 



No matter how evenly and carefully the drainage in 

 solid beds is put in, they will not dry out as evenly as 

 raised benches, and that is the only thing we have 

 against them. If other roses are to be grown then it 

 does not matter so much for they are not so particular 

 as an American Beauty. In watering solid beds from 

 now on be very careful not to get them too wet in places. 

 Watch the soil and wherever it does not dry out well 

 apply less water. Dust a little lime in such places once 

 in a while ; this will help keep the soil sweet and at the 

 same time harden the plants so they will be less likely 

 to contract some of the diseases a greenhouse rose is 

 subject to. The worst to contend with is blackspot. 

 This cannot be cured, but can be made to disappear if 

 careful attention is given to the plants and a few simple 

 rules followed as suggested several different times 

 tlirough these columns. 



Another thing to remember with solid benches is 

 when applying mulch, do not use very much. Where it 

 can be done apply only a very little and as soon as it 

 begins to get used up apply some more. Of course 

 where houses have very narrow walks this is not always 

 possible but it certainly pays not to apply too much. An- 

 other thing is applying feed and lime, etc., in a raised 

 bench. If too much is applied it can always be "washed 

 out" as we say. Not so with solid benches. Whatever 

 is put on them or into them usually stays there, so you 

 can easily see the necessity of lieing careful. 



The Boilers Again 



Have you overhauled all your boilers? If not, why 

 not ? It is high time all boilers were in perfect running 

 order. Do not wait until the last minute to make re- 

 pairs. The firms engaged in selling or manufacturing 

 boilers will be very busy with material for newly built 

 greenhouses and your order may not be able to receive 

 immediate attention and any grower, even though he 

 himself was never in such a "fix" can well imagine what 

 it means to have the houses running cold and the boilers 

 are not in repair to give any kind of a service. And, as 

 is needless to say, if roses receive any severe check in the 

 fall they will not get over it in a hurry. 



Sheep Manure 



This must not be used on the benches just yet for, if 

 good at all, it contains quite some nitrogen and too much 

 nitrogen is not wanted for the roses as early in the fall 

 as now. We used pure nitrate of soda toward spring 

 and in winter, but we would never recommend it to 

 any one, for a person using nitrate of soda wants to 

 know just what he is about or disastrous results may 

 follow. 



Poultry Manure 



Usually we gather up just as much of this as we pos- 

 sibly can and then buy some more. We mix it into the 

 liquid manure in winter and spring, but, like nitrate, it 

 must be used sparingly and the grower must know when 

 to apply it. Never apply strong feed when a large crop 

 is beginning to show color. The plants do not need it 

 then. The proper time to apply hen manure, etc., is 

 when the plants are just beginning to break or have 

 already broken. By applying strong feed at that time 

 the stems will be much longer than if no feed is given. 

 Do not, however, commence feeding your plants this 

 way at this time of the year. They do not need it, for 

 tliey are not rooted well enough to make proper use of 

 it, and will become soft and weak if given feed like that 



now. 



Mildew 



As often as this has been discussed in these columns, 

 ^ e think it wise to say a few words again, with the cool 

 nights here with us. Do not make the mistake so com- 

 monly made and shut the ventilators down tight as soon 

 as the temperature begins to drop. Give the plants air 

 and plenty of it and if they need heat give it to them. 

 The houses sliould never go below 64 degrees at night. 

 This applies to Beauties especially, for they are very 

 easily checked and growers who handle Beauties know 

 what a check in their growth means. 



By saying that houses should not go Ijelow Qi degrees 

 at night we mean at tliis time of the year only, for with 

 the hot days the cool nights would not do the plants any 

 good; 54 degrees is no temperature for Beauties and 

 they will show their dislike, too. Should your plants 

 contract a little mildew dust a little sulphur over the 

 plants or spray with ¥ungine. The latter can also be 

 used as a preventive by spraying daily during the very 

 bad spells of weather and can be used a little weaker 

 than what is recommended. WHiere steam is to be had 

 tlie simplest way is to apply a little stilphur to the steam 

 pipe, but be careful not to apply too much for sulphur 

 can kill the foliage much quicker than mildew can; so 

 he, careful! 



Cleaning Up 



Now that the houses are all planted and started, clean 

 up all those little heaps of dirt and ntbbish that may 

 have accumulated here and there. Do not let these little 

 heaps go, for they will get larger and larger and be of 

 no credit to the place. Save any broken glass that will 

 cut for broken hot bed sash and do away with the rest. 

 The best way is to bury it around or under some new 

 building now being put up. It may lie of benefit there 

 for mice have little use for broken glass and will not 

 bother digging and tunneling around buildings where 

 broken glass happens to be in the soil. Burn whatever 

 is burnable out of all the rubbish. Some of this may be 

 of use when starting a fire in the boilers, so do not lie 

 in too much of a hurry to burn it all in an empty lot, 

 where no benefit will be derived from the heat. 



