ROSE CULTURE UNDER GLASS 



499 



the row and about 15 in. the other way for the Hybrid Teas. While 

 the plants are growing during the Summer months keep the soil 

 always fairly moist and spray enough to keep down red spider. 

 Anybody can grow Roses during the Summer months without much 

 trouble, but you are bound to get a dose of mildew during Fall if you 

 carelessly permit a cold, stuffy atmosphere such as you will get by 

 shutting down the ventilators during September or October when 

 apparently there is no real need for firing. A better way is to leave 

 a crack of air above if you can make use of a little steam. Fifty-five 

 degrees is about the minimum temperature for growing Roses so 

 as to make them pay. You can grow them and keep them in good 

 health in less, but you cannot maintain a 53-deg. house one month, 

 run it up to 58 deg. or 60 deg. the next and then come back" to 

 53 deg. This would soon ruin your stock if kept up. An even tem- 

 perature around 55 or 56 deg. and air during the daytime when it 

 gets above 70 deg. is best; few good growers differ much from this. 

 While Roses, when making active growth and when they are in 

 crop, should not be allowed to suffer for want of water, let up a 

 little when the crop is over and the plants are not so active. If you 

 have poor drainage in the benches you will soon see its effect on 

 the plants. The old method of supporting the plants each with a 

 heavy wire stake fastened at the top to a wire running lengthwise 



Fig. 256.— A Rose House, showing wire stakes ready in place as supports for the 



plants as they grow 



