400 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



Roses in winter (by C. E. Hunn). 



Although the growing of roses under glass must be left chiefly to 

 florists, advice may be useful to those who have conservatories : — 



When growing forcing roses for winter flowers, florists usually pro- 

 vide raised beds, in the best-lighted houses they have. The bottom 

 of the bed or bench is left with cracks between the boards for drain- 

 age ; the cracks are covered with inverted strips of sod, and the bench 

 is then covered with 4 or 5 inches of fresh, fibrous loam. This is made 

 from rotted sods, with decayed manure incorporated at the rate of about 

 one part in four. Sod from any drained pasture-land makes good soil. 

 The plants are set on the bed in the spring or early summer, from 12 to 

 18 inches apart, and are grown there all summer. 



During the winter they are kept at a temperature of 58° to 60° at 

 night, and from 5° to 10° warmer during the day. The heating pipes 

 are often run under the benches, not because the rose likes bottom 

 heat, but to economize space and to assist in drying out the beds in 

 case of their becoming too wet. The greatest care is required in water- 

 ing, in guarding the temperature, and in ventilation. Draughts result 

 in checks to the growth and in mildewed foliage. 



Dryness of the air, especially from fire heat, is followed by the ap- 

 pearance of the minute red spider on the leaves. The aphis, or green 

 plant louse, appears under all conditions, and must be kept down by 

 the use of some of the tobacco preparations (several of which are on 

 the market). 



For the red spider, the chief means of control is syringing with either 

 clear or soapy water. If the plants are intelligently ventilated and 

 given, at all times, as much fresh air as possible, the red spider is less 

 likely to appear. For mildew, which is easily recognized by its white, 

 powdery appearance on the foliage, accompanied with more or less 

 distortion of the leaves, the remedy is sulfur in some form or other. 

 The flowers of sulfur may be dusted thinly over the foliage; enough 

 merely slightly to whiten the foliage is sufficient. It may be dusted 

 on from the hand in a broadcast way, or applied with a powder-bellows, 

 which is a better and less wasteful method. Again, a paint composed 

 of sulfur and linseed oil may be applied to a part of one of the steam 

 or hot-water heating pipes. The fumes arising from this are not 



