May 30, 1914 



♦■ HORTICULTURE 



795 



ROSE GROWING UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



Cyf^^Oy^cJ^-^c^ 



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 offlceof HOKllCULilUKli,. 



"Watering 



Make sure that the plants have all the water that they 

 need this warm dry weather, for if they are allowed to 

 suifer from lack of water they will not produce the flow- 

 ers, especially tlie Beauties which will likely become 

 stunts and finally go blind. See that there is enough 

 mulch on to keep the sun from heating up the soil too 

 much, for this would hurt a large number of the roots, 

 and would kill all the small and tender feeders that are 

 continually working out in search of food. Water the 

 edges of the benches twice if necessary. Be careful in 

 using liquid manure, for it must not be applied if the 

 soil is at all dry. Better water with clear water first. 



Cleaning 



There is no reason why the plants should not be kept 

 clean, for the houses will still have some time to live. 

 See that they do not become infested with red spider as 

 that would be bad for the next season, as a large number 

 of the rascals will remain on the benches, and will man- 

 age to get at the young plants as soon as these are set 

 on the benches. The same is true of greenfly. Keep 

 this out of the houses at all costs. 



Parcels Post 



Many places will receive quite a few orders to be 

 shipped by parcels post and this line of trade can be 

 worked up so that it will pay very nicely. The main 

 part of it is to see that the roses shipped in this fashion 

 arrive at their destination in good shape. To do this 

 they must be well hardened before they start, and should 

 have the stems mossed, and then they should be tied to 

 the bottom of the box, so as to make it impossible for 

 them to slide around in the box while they are handled 

 and thus become bruised and broken. We always use a 

 wrap around the outside of the box, as then the box it- 

 self will remain clean, and will be presentable when the 

 outside wrap is removed. Mark the box so that anyone 

 can tell it contains flowers and it will be handled a little 

 more carefully at least. 



Shipping 



It is a very poor policy to put all the roses into the 

 box. All the bad, or too far open ones should always be 

 discarded, for they only pull the price down on the good 

 ones. If there are too many to throw away, put them in 



a lot by themselves and then they will bring something, 

 and you will receive a better price for the good grades. 

 If this has not been done all along it will take a while 

 for the buyers to get wise, but once this is done, and the 

 stuff is always packed good, the stock will usually be sold 

 before it reaches the city. Try it and see. 



A Query 



Mr. Ruzicka: 



Dear Sir — Will you kindly advise me wlien to set out 

 rose bushes in greenhouse for late fall and winter flowering, 

 and what kind ot drainage to use in benches that are about 

 four inches deep with tile bottom, also how long to leave 

 shading on house after planting to get good results? I am. 



Yours respectfully, 



M. C. 

 New York. 



As you do not specify any varieties, we take it for 

 granted that you intend planting some of the regular 

 greenhouse varieties. You also mention bushes. We could 

 advise you better if you would be a little more explicit in 

 your letter. Roses for winter blooming can be planted 

 any time now, and if young plants are used they will have 

 plenty of time to develop before roses are cut from 

 them. If your benches are raised you will require no 

 drainage at all, save spaces between the tiles, or holes in 

 the same. If, however, your benches are solid we would 

 advise at least four inches of crushed stone under the 

 tiles. It would be of little use to put broken stone into 

 the bottom of the benches as the stone would soon fill up 

 with soil, and then the drainage would be poor. If your 

 soil is heavy you can allow more open space between the 

 tiles, and if your soil is light, put them closer together. 

 Use a little straw or hay, or any material like that, which 

 is not too coarse, in the bottom of the benches to keep the 

 soil from sifting through. Do not use too much soil in 

 the benches, as you can always add a little more when- 

 ever the plants need it. As your benches are four inches 

 deep we would fill them not quite full, say up to within 

 a half an inch. This will give the plants plenty of soil 

 to root in, and make them easier to control. As for shad- 

 ing, we never use shading for roses after planting. We 

 might shade the houses a little to make them more com- 

 fortable to work in, but that is all. This is generally 

 only a little mud and water and will wash off with the 

 first rain that comes along. If the plants used are potted 

 stuff they should never feel that they have been planted 

 except that they will start and grow much better at once. 

 They should never wilt if they are planted right, hence 

 there is no use for shading, as it only tends to make the 

 plants soft and more subject to disease. 



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