CUT-FLOWER CROPS 251 



It takes about ten or twelve weeks from the time they 

 are brought inside, to prepare them for sale. This de- 

 pends, however, upon the maturity of the wood and the 

 temperature at which they are kept. As soon as they are 

 brought inside, the long canes should be tied into the 

 shapes desired. Wire stakes are used for these forms, 

 but they are eventually completely hidden with foliage 

 and flowers. 



315. Temperature and light requirements. The tem- 

 perature at first should not exceed 45 at night, and water 

 should be applied to the soil moderately, but the tops 

 should be syringed several times during the day. After 

 two or three weeks the temperature may be raised to 50, 

 and later, when the buds have formed, it may gradually be 

 increased to 60. Roses which are forced in moderate heat 

 will have better keeping qualities. The plants should 

 be kept near the glass and turned frequently so that the 

 buds on all sides will develop evenly, and symmetrical 

 plants thus formed. The baby or dwarf ramblers, the 

 hybrid perpetuals and hybrid teas may be forced in the 

 same way. 



316. Forcing hybrid perpetuals. The hybrid per- 

 petuals are grown more especially for cut-flowers ; there- 

 fore they may be planted in boxes which are about three 

 feet long, eight inches wide and eight inches deep. They 

 may be placed along the side of the houses in which the 

 teas and hybrid teas are grown for cut-flow r ers. 



317. Use of unsold plants. Any plants left from 

 the spring sales may be plunged out of doors in the early 

 spring, and they will make good plants the following 

 spring. They should be re-potted in rich loam before 

 plunging, and should then be treated the same as are the 

 rambler roses. 



