October 5, 1912 



HOETICULTURE 



471 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



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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 olHce of HORTlCULrURE. 



Cloudy Days 



These seem to be quite plentiful in our locality and 

 those that may have neglected syringing somewhat and 

 have a nest of spider here and there will have a good 

 chance to regret it. Should you have a house with these 

 nests in it lose no time in cleaning them out. Some 

 good insecticide properly applied will be found a great 

 help. Apply just before syringing if possible and then 

 directly after. 



Temperature 



Do not make the mistake often made and run your 

 houses too warm on cloudy days. Of course you may not 

 be able to keep the temperature down when it's warm 

 outside, but this will hardly be the case from now on. 

 Usually our cloudy days are raw and chilly, when a little 

 fire heat goes real good. We try to keep the houses 

 below 70 degrees, not forgetting to ventilate as freely 

 as weather will permit. 66 to 70 degrees is about 

 right ou cloudy days, this time of the year. On the first 

 clear day following several cloudy ones, the houses should 

 not be allowed to run above 74 degrees if at all possible. 

 This will bring them back to their regular day temper- 

 ature gradually and there will be no sudden changes 

 from cold to hot and vice versa. 



Plants in Solid Benches 



These will not take as much water during cloudy 

 weather as raised or semi-solid benches will and this fact 

 should be borne in mind when watering. We once had a 

 bench of tea roses that would not behave and on inves- 

 tigating we found the plants had but very little root in 

 the surface soil, nearly all roots going down through the 

 stone drain into the soil below. The plants were old 

 plants and some of these roots were half an inch in 

 thickness. It seems these plants while resting during 

 the summer months were run too dry altogether, so they 

 forged their way down to the lower soil to get water. 

 After this discovery we dried oS the plants a little and 

 cut them down to almost nothing and then replanted 

 them in new soil. Then we got quite some buds off 

 these. 



Looking after Blackspot 



As we advise through these columns every now and 

 then, be on the watch for spot, and as soon as any ap- 

 pears anywhere pick it off and burn it. A spraying 

 with the ammoniacal copper carbonate will also help to 

 keep it from spreading, but do not for a minute think it 

 M-ill cure. The only cure is to grow the plants out of it 

 and keep the air sweet and fresh all the time. Beauties 

 are not the only roses that are subject to it. Killar- 

 neys, Richmonds — in fact all the roses are more or 

 less inclined to get a dose of spot if mistreated in any 

 way. If spot appears omit syringing at once for as long 

 as you think it safe. Syringing will always help spread 

 spot more or less. 



Other Plants in Rose Houses 



It seems a shame to see so much space underneath the 



benches that is idle all the time, and yet we find roses are 

 not like other plants and thrive best when grown alto- 

 gether by themselves. Not that other plants cannot be 

 grown in the rose houses. One thing a person has to 

 k-eep in mind is that any plant brought into the houses 

 should be perfectly clean and free from all bugs. Cer- 

 tain varieties of bedding plants have a great habit of 

 harboring several different kinds of insects and prove to 

 be only insect breeders in the houses, as it is usually very 

 difficult to exterminate insects from these plants. 



Rats and Mice 



This hardly goes under the head of "Eoses," but we 

 find a good many rose-growing establishments so over- 

 run with rats and mice that a little reminder might 

 strike home here and there. Cats are as bad as the mice 

 — in many cases worse. We find there is nothing that 

 beats the little "Joker" traps. These are made big 

 enough for rats, too, and the joke is certainly on many 

 mice and rats. Scald these traps every now and then 

 with steam or boiling water, and if possible set them 

 with glove.s on your hands. You may laugh at this and 

 yet a rat can smell the touch of man's hand enough to 

 know there is danger lurking in the innocent-looking 

 piece of board with some fancy wire scrolls on it. Keep 

 your place free from insects and other pests as well. 



Handling Cut Roses 



Remember that it does not take much to bruise the 



tender petals of roses, and also that they have to pass 

 llirough several hands before they finally reach the re- 

 tailers customer. White roses will show bruise much 

 more easily than roses of other colors, so be especially 

 careful in handling these. In cutting keep the buds 

 neatly on top of one another or if the length of stems 

 does not vary too much, you can keep the ends of stems 

 together and place them in water before grading, but we 

 think this is a poor practise. Grade your roses as soon 

 as possible after cutting and put them into water, where 

 they will remain until they are shipped. Keep this 

 water fresh at all times. Better empty all jars and vases 

 daily and make sure. Stagnant water kills the foliage 

 immersed in it, thus rendering the stock less salable. 



In packing never pack two tiers of roses in a box 

 when shipping whites. The best way is to have shallow 

 boxes and pack only one layer. Go to the city every now 

 and then and see just in what condition your stuff ar- 

 rives. You will no doubt be surprised at what you see. 



Sheep Manure 



We would not advise using any sheep manure in the 

 rose houses as yet. It is far too early in the season. The 

 only place where sheep manure will go good would be 

 with old stubborn plants that have been carried over and 

 are just breaking for another crop. Usually the bottom 

 wood on all such plants is quite hard and naturally the 

 stems of all flowers cut may not be so long as they might 

 be. A light dose of pulverized sheep manure or a little 

 liquid made with the same will do a great deal to make 

 the stems a little longer. 



