STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 103 



COMMERCIAL ROSE GROWING. 



BY WM. E. MORTON, OF PORTLAND. 



This is a subject in which those who are engaged in pomology or 

 general farming may not be so much interested as the florist or 

 those who have an interest in the production of fine flowers in our 

 cold winter climate. It is a trade by itself, — one that requires con- 

 stant care, 3'ears of experience, and above all a love for the busi- 

 ness. The farmer who produces his crops under the genial skies of 

 our New England summer, hardh' realizes the difficulties under 

 which we labor in our cold, blustering winter weather, to produce 

 an artificial summer atmosphere in which roses will flourish, sending 

 forth a constant succession of fragrant flowers day after day, 

 regardless of the zero weather outside. I propose to give a few brief 

 directions, as practiced in m}' own business ; and shall speak of 

 the subject under the following heads, viz : Location, House or 

 houses, Heat, Soil, Manure, Plants, Varieties, Care, Cutting buds. 

 Market, Profits. 



1st — Location. This must be well sheltered and exposed to the 

 sunliglit all day, or at least the greater part of the time. In our 

 cold climate, with short dark days, we must have a location where 

 all the sun that there is can be obtained, otherwise failure is certain. 



2d — Houses. These ought to be not less than 20 feet wide, 100 

 feet long, walls 3 feet high and not over 8 feet high in center of 

 house ; low houses can be kept warm so mucii better than high 

 ones. 



3d — Heat. Whatever method you. use, flue, hot water or steam, 

 (and it is yet a question which is the best, hot water or steam,) the 

 houses must be kept at a temperature of not less than sixty degrees, 

 no matter what the weather may be outside. 



4th — iSoil. This must be a stiff" clay loam, well enriched with 

 manure and leaf mould. 



5th — Manure. Tliis nuist be well rotted cow manure. Our 

 practice is to give the beds a coating of some tln-ee inches early in 

 September and again in December. This has proved with us none 

 too much. 



