1576 



ROSE 



greenhouse having a temperature of about 56 at night 

 and shaded with sheets of newspaper or similar material 

 from bright sun for a few days till they show some in- 

 dication of starting into growth. The actual time that 

 shading will be required will depend largely upon the 

 weather and the season of the year. Do not over-water 

 the young plants at any stage, but give just enough to 

 moisten the whole soil nicely when first potted and then as 

 required afterward. Do not put them in the shade of other 

 plants, but place them where they will get the full bene- 

 fit of all the sunlight and plenty of air as soon as shad- 

 ing can be dispensed with ; such treatment will produce 

 a clean, healthy, stocky plant, which means a good con- 

 stitution. Should greenfly appear on them, fumigate with 

 tobacco stems immediately. Syringe overhead on all 

 bright days. In about five to six weeks from the time of 

 first potting, the plants will be ready for a shift into a 

 larger size pot, -3-inch size will be large enough. The 

 same class of soil can be used as for the first potting, 



2189. American Beauty, now the most popular florist's 



Rose in America (X %). 

 The picture shows a specimen grown in the open. 



or if the plants are to be put into their season quarters, 

 i. e., planted into benches from this size, a little more 

 manure can be added; but if they are to be grown on 

 in pots, some growers will prefer to give them a third 

 shift, namely into 4-inch pots. The plants, if properly 

 cared for, should be ready for this last shift in about six 

 to eight weeks from the time they are planted into 4-inch 

 pots. In this last shift soil considerably richer can be 

 used. Keep off all the buds so as to have the plants 

 sturdy, strong and vigorous. 



Presuming that this method has been followed through 

 till the end of May or beginning of June, the plants will 



ROSE 



be ready for benching out, or, in other words, to be put 

 into their winter quarters. The benches should hold 

 4-5 inches of soil and the bottom slats of said benches 

 should be placed not less than %.-% in. apart to allow 

 for ample drainage. If plants have been grown in these 

 benches previously, the benches should be thoroughly 

 cleaned and scrubbed out so as to get all insects, eggs, 

 etc., away. Also, all the soil or surface of the house 

 underneath should be scraped very carefully and swept 

 out clean, and practically all the inside of the house 

 thoroughly cleaned. When this is done, take two or 

 three lumps of stone sulfur or brimstone and burn it in 

 the house, preferably in the afternoon while the sun is 

 still hot. As soon as the sulfur is set on fire and burn- 

 ing sufficiently, shut up the house as tight as possible and 

 leave it till the next morning. After this the benches 

 should be thoroughly washed with hot lime over the en- 

 tire inside surface. The house is then ready for the new 

 soil to be put in. This should be composed of good 

 fresh loamy soil, preferably of a rather heavy texture; 

 to each part of manure add 3 or not more than 4 parts 

 of soil, the whole thoroughly fined and all lumps broken 

 up. This compost should be prepared some time in ad- 

 vance and be turned over several times before it is 

 wanted for the greenhouse. If this has been done, all 

 that is necessary now is to bring in sufficient soil to fill 

 the benches. Level it all over without treading or press- 

 ing in any form; then start to fill the house with plants. 

 For the ordinary varieties such as Bride, Bridesmaid, 

 in fact nearly all the Tea varieties, an average of 14-15 

 inches apart from plant to plant each way is about the 

 right distance. When planting press the soil firmly 

 around the ball of each plant and when the whole house 

 is planted water the plants sufficiently to soak the soil 

 to the bottom of the bench, but do not saturate the 

 whole of the soil. It is far better to direct the water 

 straight to each individual plant and then syringe the 

 whole; this will moisten the other soil on the surface 

 without making it unduly wet. Give all air possible to 

 the plants day and night during hot weather. Syringe 

 in very hot weather twice a day if it is necessary to 

 keep humidity in the house and get the plants started 

 into clean, vigorous growth. This treatment can be fol- 

 lowed for four or five weeks until the plants begin to 

 start their roots into the new soil ; then go over the 

 whole of the benches and press the soil as firmly as pos- 

 sible. Be careful not to break the plants in doing so, 

 but it is absolutely necessary that the soil should be 

 thoroughly settled and firm. After this, rake the whole 

 surface over with a blunt -pointed rake so as just to 

 make it level, water as before and as soon as the plants 

 recover from this; in other words, as soon as they show 

 they are starting new growths mulch the soil with a lit- 

 tle manure, but in putting on the mulch never exceed 

 half an inch at a time, as the plants need air at the roots 

 as they do at the tops. 



If the flowers are not wanted early, it is better to 

 pinch all the buds off the plants as fast as they appear 

 up to the end of September. This gives the plants an 

 opportunity to make strong, sturdy growth and build 

 up a constitution equal to withstand the pressure of 

 winter forcing. 



As the fall approaches and cooler nights come on, the 

 air should be reduced proportionately at night, although 

 it is better to maintain a little night ventilation as long 

 as possible, even if it is necessary to use a little fire 

 heat to expel the damp. After the plants begin to bloom 

 they will need careful watching, as the days will be get- 

 ting shorter and somewhat cloudy. It is important to 

 avoid overwatering, but, at the same time, they should 

 never be allowed to suffer for the want of moisture. 

 Syringing should be done more carefully at this sea- 

 son of the year, or black-spot and various other dis- 

 eases may appear. 



To obtain the best class of flowers during the entire 

 winter the average night temperature should not be al- 

 lowed to exceed 56 on bright warm days. Of course, 

 with an abundance of air on, the temperature can be al- 

 lowed to run up to 75, 80 or even 90 on some very 

 bright warm days. 



Mildew, which is one of the worst pests of greenhouse- 

 grown Roses in the fall of the year, can be largely 

 avoided by ail abundance of air at all times. Should it 



