IRISH GARDENING 



VOLUME VIII. 

 No. 83 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



JANUARY 



'9'3 



Roses under Glass* 



Bv Ernest Bewi.ey. Damim, Rathgar, Co. Dublin. 



;ARV 

 NEV. 

 BOTA 



qah 



The Editor has asked me more than 

 once to write something 011 growing 

 Roses under glass. I am now doing 

 so, in the hope that some other 

 growers better qualified will give us 

 some hints as to how they manage 

 theirs. Here the Roses are grown 

 in a light, airy span-roof house 

 running north and south, having 

 ventilators along both sides of the 

 ridge the entire length, and along each 

 side of the house. The roof is made 

 of movable sashes, like garden- 

 frame lights, which slide off easily. 

 There are two rows of 4-inch pipes 

 along each side and across the end, 

 about three feet from the walls at 

 the edge of the border nearest the 

 stage, which is in the centre, with 

 a walk along the sides and end. The 

 roof, which had been taken off at 

 the beginning of .June, is replaced 

 on the 1st November, and the Roses 

 in pots are taken up from the bed 

 where they had been plunged during 

 the summer. The pots are carefully 

 washed and then brought into the house : all 

 water is withheld, and the ventilators and door 

 are left wide open, the object being to give all 

 the plants as perfect a rest as possible, especially 

 the Roses that are growing in the borders of the 

 house, as the borders remain damp for some time. 

 which often causes a little untimely root action ; 

 but I have never found any evil results follow 

 this slight growth, which only lasts for a time. 

 About the beginning of December we are careful 

 to see that none of the shoots that are wanted 

 on the pot plants (the border plants never get 

 quite dry) show signs of shrivelling : should any 

 be found, sufficient water and no more is given 

 to cause them to plump up again. It does not 

 05 matter if the unripe shoots slightly shrivel, as 

 IT!" they will be cut away at pruning time. Pruning 

 «— is completed just before Christmas Day. all un- 

 T-~ ripe and dead wood being cut clean away, and 

 the hard, well-ripened shoots cut hard back to 

 nc a good plump, dormant eye looking outwards. 



When a plant becomes old and hide-bound, we 

 leave a strong growth, if it has flowered, that has 

 come from the collar at the junction of the 

 stock and the Rose, and cut most or all of the 

 rest of the plant away ; any old wood that is 

 left is rut away next season, when there will be 

 nothing left but young, strong, vigorous growths. 

 All the primings are carefully collected and 

 burned in the furnace thus destroying the 

 various pests that are harbouring in the tops of 

 the shoots. On the afternoon of 26th December 

 the house is closed, the next morning a gentle 

 spraying is given, and the pot plants get a good 

 watering, as they are very dry. About an hour 

 afterwards the top ventilators are opened on 

 the side opposite to the wind, according to the 

 condition of the weather ; a little heat is turned 

 on if the weather is cold, but as we only want 

 to begin with a day temperature of 45 to 50 or 

 55 degrees from sun heat, and 38 to 40 degrees, 

 or very little more, at night, we are careful not 

 to overdo it. remembering that in forcing all 

 plants we have to copy the weather in which 

 the plants will begin to grow in their ordinary 

 season if left to themselves. Spring days are 

 not very warm, and the nights are cold when the 

 outdoor Roses begin to push their buds. 

 Syringing every morning an hour before the 

 ventilators are opened will keep the pots and 

 holders damp enough at first, but when growth 

 advances, with a higher temperature, water is 

 given as it may be required, but care is taken 

 not to over-water, which is easily done, especially 

 the borders. All unnecessary shoots that have 

 made their appearance are rubbed off before 

 they grow more than half air inch long. If 

 greenfly makes its appearance the house is 

 fumigated at once. As the days lengthen and 

 the sun's heat becomes more powerful, the 

 ventilation is increased ; we do not shade the 

 Rose house now, as we find we get better blooms 

 and hardier foliage by not doing so, also the 

 chance of mildew is reduced. Should a spot or 

 two of mildew be seen, a pinch of flowers of 

 sulphur is taken between the finger and thumb 

 and gently rubbed on the spot on the leaf above 

 and below, which kills the pest. When the 



