170 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



The larva of the May beetle, a large white grub, with 

 a dark-brown head, must not be confounded with the 

 larva of the Rose-bug. This, too, is often destructive to 

 Roses, but usually only on newly-planted beds. It acts 

 by cutting the roots clean off, killing the plant outright. 

 However, it is rarely so destructive as the Rose-bug, and 

 not so much to be feared, as it is not propagated inside 

 the house, the grubs being simply carried in with the soil. 

 Care should therefore be taken to avoid all soil in which 

 these large grubs are seen. 



SHADING THE HOUSE. 



There is some difference of opinion as to the propriety 

 of shading rose houses during the hot summer months. 

 I believe that a slight shading is beneficial from May 

 to September, and for that purpose use naphtha, mixed 

 with a little white lead, just enough to give it the appear- 

 ance of thin milk. This is thrown on the outside of the 

 glass with a syringe. It costs only about twenty -five 

 cents for every thousand square feet. This shading is 

 the best I have ever used. It is just enough to take the 

 glare of the sunlight off, without much lessening the 

 light ; and though it will hold on tenaciously during the 

 summer, it is easily rubbed off in the fall after the first 

 frost, when it has been lightly put on, but if thickly put 

 on it is quite troublesome to get off. Another method 

 is, to use common whitening mixed with water, put on 

 with a brush on the glass inside the house. This plan 

 has the advantage of the shading being much easier 

 washed off than the other, although it is a little slower 

 to put on. Of course it could be syringed on quickly, 

 which would, however, spatter the foliage, making it 

 look unsightly for a few days, but doing no injury. 



GARDEN CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 



But little need be said on this branch of the subject, 

 all that is wanted being a deep, rich soil, enriched with 



