FLORICULTURE. 379 



house. Color of flowers are all shades, from pure white to the darkest red; 

 and a plant in full bloom will cover the leaves completely and is a 

 gorgeous sight. 



The rose is always a favorite on all occasions, It always has been and 

 probably always will be the "queen of flowers." 



For Easter forcing, the hardy or hybrid perpetual varieties seem to be 

 the best adapted. 



The following kinds we have had the best success with: Madam Plan- 

 tier, pure white; Gen. Jacqueminot, brilliant velvety-crimson; Alfred 

 Colomb, dark red; Ulrich Brunner, bright cherry-red; Chas. Le Febre, 

 reddish-crimson; Merville de Lyon, pure white; Mdm. G. Luizet, bright 

 pink; Anna de Disbach, carmine; Magna Charta, bright dark pink. 



They are all perfectly hardy in our climate. In preparing them for 

 forcing there are different ways. One way is to start them from cuttings 

 during winter, plant them out in the open ground in spring, cultivate 

 them well during the summer, cover with litter or long manure during 

 winter, and by the next fall they will be strong enough to lift and be 

 potted for forcing. 



Another way is to import roses from Europe, which are grafted on 

 the roots of a wild rose. They seem to be the best for forcing in pots, 

 and can be had about as cheap as they can be grown at home. After pot- 

 ting, they should be put in a cold house or cold frame, and kept 

 there until about the 1st of January. After that they must be brought 

 into a temperature of about 45 to 50 degrees, and when started well re- 

 moved into a temperature of about 60 to 65 degrees. To have them for 

 Easter, it depends a good deal on the weather. If there is much clear, 

 sunny weather, they will come on a good deal faster and should be kept 

 a little cooler, so as not to have them come in bloom too early. These 

 grafted roses seem to be better -for forcing in pots than those on their own 

 roots, for the stock that they are grafted on is a very vigorous grower and 

 makes the plants grow faster and bloom better; but for out-door planting 

 they are not so good, for the roots will always throw up suckers, which, 

 when not removed while small, will take the life out of the parent plant, 

 and after a year or two there will be nothing but the wild rose. Those 

 made from cuttings on their own root will not grow as fast at first, but 

 after having a good start will make better plants and bloom as well as 

 the others. A great many other flowers might be mentioned, but those 

 named are the most important ones for that purpose. 



DISCUSSION.' 



Prof. Connor, N. D: I would like to ask Mr. Nagel if he 

 has ever had any experience with the Madame Plan tier? 



Mr. Nagel: I have a good many coming in bloom for Easter. It 

 is a plant that must not be taken up too early. Take it up and 

 top it, and keep it in a closed house. The temperature should 

 not run over forty and should be kept mostly at thirty-five. You 

 should be very careful not to force it too fast. If it is left long 

 enough, say until about the first of January, and then put in a 

 warmer house and cut back, it will be in full bloom by Easter. 



Mr. Smith: About how much would you cut it back? 



