2-j8 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



C'.ROWIXC; ROSES IX CITIES. 



HEN I began to grow roses in the city I was told by a number of 

 men, clever in gardening, that success in my undertaking was out 

 of the question because of smoke, dust, gases, foul air, etc. I 

 paid no attention to their warnings or advice, well knowing that 

 if the roses received six to eight hours of sunshine each day, and 

 care such as is given by skilled men in the country, my chances 

 for success were as good as theirs. I have grown pretty good 

 roses of the leading monthly varieties in the City of Brooklyn for the last seven 

 years. 



Every year, about the first week in July, I set young rose plants in fresh 

 soil. The cuttings from which they are grown are taken from healthy plants 

 the preceding December, and placed in the propagating bed ; they root in from 

 2 1 to 28*days. When nicely rooted, I prick them off in flat boxes, setting the 

 plants 2 V2 or 3 inches apart, and grow them on until they are large enough to be 

 placed in 4 or 5-inch pots. Great care must be taken that the roots of young 

 rose plants are not broken when removing them from flats to pots. From the 

 4-inch pots my plants are shifted into larger ones before planting in those that 

 are to hold them while blooming. .... 



Buds must be kept pinched out until the young rose bushes are strong 

 enou<^h to bloom ; with proper care they ought to be in good condition for this 

 by September 30. The house in my charge has a span-roof east and west, and 

 is heated by hot water. I use for roses elevated benches 5 inches deep, with the 

 bottom boards left wide enough ^apart to allow free drainage. I put a light layer 

 of shavings over them to keep the soil from going through these openings. The 

 benches are from 4 to 6 feet from the glass, and I use galvanized wire to keep 

 the roses in place. ...... 



To keep down the greenfly, fresh tobacco stems are moistened and strewn 

 on the hot water pipes ; and the evaporating pans are filled with a liquid pre- 

 pared by steeping tobacco stems in water. My roses are seldom troubled with 

 mildew, but in such cases I dust sulphur lightly over all diseased plants ; this is 

 a sure remedy for mildew. The ventilators of the house are left open night and 

 day until the evenings get chilly in September, after which I close the ventilators 

 on the sides and shut down the top, leaving a little opening until obliged by cold 

 weather to close tight. Night heat through the winter should range from 50° to 

 55' ; day heat should be 60° in dull weather, allowing the temperature to rise 

 15° or 20° more with sun heat. I syringe the ro.ses every bright day, heavily or 

 lightly, as the occasion requires. — Americart Gardering. 



