i8o 



THE FLOWER GROWERS GUIDE. 



roots have not thriven in equal proportions. For example, one of these roses may be 

 growing in a border inside a greenhouse or conservatory, with some of the roots 

 established beyond the protecting influence of the house. Growth commences early 

 under glass, but the roots in the cold outside soil do not move sufficiently to meet the 

 requirements of such growth. This is often the first start of canker. 



Canker usually forms at the junction of rose and stock. As time goes on, a knotty 

 and warty excrescence forms, arresting the sap, and the plant consequently lingers and 

 dies. Many so-called remedies have been tried, but rarely with effect. As experience 

 has proved that a healthy young plant placed in the same soil and position with the 

 one attacked will not be at all certain to be affected, such plant is often procured, and 

 it advances ready to take the place of the old one when the disease has rendered it 

 useless. 



Eecipes. 



Those for the destruction of insects are many. Most of the insecticides upon the 

 market are good, if users of them would pay a little more care to the directions for 

 mixing. It is better to use a little weaker solution than advised, and give two 

 syringings at an interval of a few hours, than to apply a strong solution once. Many 

 persons fail to keep the mixture stirred sufficiently while using, or omit to well shake 

 the bottle before adding the insecticide to the water. We cannot recommend one 

 proprietary insecticide over another ; it is simply a question of attending to directions 

 given with each. 



Soft Soap, Sulphur, and Petroleum. — The solution we use is made as follows : — 

 add 1 lb. of soft soap to a gallon of water. Boil this steadily for about ten minutes, 

 and, while still hot, add half a pint of paraffin oil (petroleum), and a quarter of a pound 

 of flowers of sulphur. Stir the whole thoroughly, and boil again. Then, when cold, 

 bottle off for future use. A quarter of a pint of this will make a gallon of solution 

 at any time when needed. Use it at a temperature of 70° to 75°, and always keep 

 the mixture moving during application. It is a splendid remedy against all insect 

 pests, and if used at half this strength every time the roses are syringed, very few 

 insects or mildews will attack them. 



There are few instances in which the old adage of prevention being better than 

 cure is more applicable than in the case of plant pests and diseases, and a weak 

 insecticide used even when no insects are visible does an enormous amount of good. 



