32 COMMERCIAL ROSE CULTURE 



Pot firmly, leaving the top of the soil nearly one-half an inch 

 below the top of the pot. This allows low grafting, which 

 means that the plants may be planted into a shallow bench and 

 yet have the graft covered with soil, which is considered by 

 some good growers as essential to success. However, I have 

 seen grafted stock doing well when planted with the graft 

 exposed above ground. When potted, place the plants on a 

 bench of clean ashes in a cold house, water well once and 

 then, after the first day, spray very lightly, several times daily, 

 to keep the tops moist, but do not keep the roots too wet. Keep 

 the house as near 46 as possible. 



The stock will be ready for grafting in from three to five 

 weeks after potting, according to conditions. As soon as the buds 

 swell and the roots show, they are ready to graft. While the 

 stock is rooting is the time to get the grafting case ready, if 

 this has not been done previously. This may be built on one 

 end of the bench where you root your cuttings, but will re- 

 quire more pipes underneath, as the bottom heat must be greater. 

 A temperature of 80 to 85 is required for this. 



For a bench three or four feet wide, from four to six \ l /i~ 

 inch steam pipes will be enough to maintain this heat if the 

 sides and ends are boxed in tightly. Every pipe should have a 

 valve on both ends so that the heat may be under control at 

 all times. Use matched boards for building the frame, and 

 make the glass cover thoroughly tight, for on this much of the 

 future success depends. Build the case large enough to accom- 

 modate as many plants as you wish to graft and divide it into 

 sections, each independent of the other, and each one tight. 

 Make each section no larger than you can fill in one day's 

 grafting. If you have 10,000 to graft, a case holding about 

 3,500 will be large enough, for if you commence early you can 

 make three rounds. Each round will take about four weeks in 

 all, although it has been done in less time. 



