_true variety. 
10 
place his order with a dependable grower 
‘several months in advance of the time 
for shipping ; in fact, early Winter is the 
best time, if not earlier, to engage roses 
for Spring delivery. The plants can then 
be selected, shifted, set aside in cool 
houses, and brought to the requisite size, 
strength and condition for delivery at 
any specified time. 
placing an order is very frequently 
likely to cause disappointment by reason 
Postponement in 
of certain desired varieties having been 
sold out and no further supply available 
until the following season. In ordering 
rose plants, it is advisable always to state 
for what particular purpose they are 
wanted, and briefly tho kind of stock 
expected. The intelligent grower or 
order clerk will then have a clue to guide 
the selection of plants in just the con- 
dition to make them best adapted to the 
desired end, 
— Substitution and Other Notes. — 
The substitution of a different variety 
under the label of a variety definitely 
ordered is a practice not to be tolerated 
in this present day of floral enlighten- 
ment and it is entirely proper for the 
buyer to insist upon getting every item, 
true to label, the shipper to notify him 
to such effect if unable to supply the 
On orders requiring quick 
shipment it is well for the buyer to 
mention a second or third choice in place 
of varieties which he may not absolutely 
. 
require, and this will facilitate the filling 
of many an order in the rush season. 
The cheap collections advertised in the 
magazines and other publications, for 
premium purposes, are a prolific source” 
of the substitution evil and by no ineans 
calculated to foster a true knowledge of 
roses on the part of the amateur. Many 
a woman or man will proudly exhibit a 
rose as being of such and such a variety 
when, in reality, it may be a radically 
different sort belonging to another class 
and possibly an entirely different color. 
But this appears to be practically 
irremediable so long as the consuming 
public retain the bargain counter craze 
and defer ordering until the rush is on in 
full blast. At such a tine correspondence 
with a legion of customers would be an 
absolute impossibility. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
Girl labor is gradually being intro- 
duced in the growing, labeling, and 
packing of roses and other plants at the 
various greenhouses, and by reason of 
their faithfulness, attentiveness, deftness 
of hand and aptness to absorb floral 
knowledge, they are conceded to be pre- 
ferable to boys or young men for many 
classes of work. 
— Which Makes Best Stock Plants. — 
The growers of roses by the own root 
Summer propagation method are inclined 
to take issue with the cut flower houses 
following the method of propagating in 
the Winter from forced and practically 
exhausted stock, It is argued that it is 
against the laws of nature to propagate 
in the non growing season when such 
vegetation should naturally be taking a 
rest just the same as living beings require 
the rest of night after a day of activity. 
And it is claimed that stock forced for 
blooms for a year or two of constant 
strain must naturally be lacking in the 
vitality of blood necessary to make a 
vigorous and healthy offspring, and that 
in the long run the quite small plant 
propagated at the natural time from wood 
taken from a parent in the prime of its 
vigor will win out over its competitor 
propagated at an unnatural time from 
constantly forced and exhausted stock. 
In other words, it is held that the 
florist about to plant for cut roses, 
instead of propagating from his own 
‘stock or purchasing, say, 3 inch pot roses 
from another cut flower house, had better 
buy and take a new start with fresh and 
vigorous and naturally grown plants from 
2% or 2 inch pots. To meet the demands 
of cut rose houses, local growers have 
frequently discussed the advisability of 
attempting to meet the demand for 3 in, 
stock for planting in May and June, but 
they are always up against the stubborn 
fact that the 3 in. pot occupies the same 
space as three 2 inch pots, and bench 
room for a large quantity of 3 inch seems 
never to be available, being always in 
demand either for the 2 or 23 in. stock 
or for that which is on the benches for 
propagating purposes. 
—No Trade Secrets at Springfield. — 
Every department of every greenhouse 
ably being cordially welcomed. 
June 1, 1909 
in this locality is open to the inspection 
of any and every person practically every 
day and night of the year, visitors invari- 
Never- 
theless, the success of the local plant 
’ growing industry has been built on years 
“of long and varied experience and the 
art is not to be learnt in a day. More 
over, all natural requisites are at’ hand, 
among which. are admirably adapted 
soils, just the right send, suitable stable 
manure mingled with straw. a favorable 
climate, experienced help, central location 
for shipping, 
encouragement of , one 
grower to another, and a multitude of 
other considerations too numerous 0 
mention. 
— Treatment of Problems. — 
From start to finish, the battle against 
diseases, pests and possible disasters 10° 
numerous to mention is something torri- 
fying, and the unceasing vigilance and 
extreme caution required might best b? 
likened to raising a baby. Among other 
things, the stock plants are liable to b® 
attacked by grub worms, fungus, gre@? 
fly, scorching from sun heat by reason 0 
slight delay in watering, while the 
advisability of disbudding or not, and the 
proper ripening of the wood prior +? 
cutting, are problems requiring critical 
judgment and care; the cuttings in the 
hotbeds are constantly on a tremble 
between life and death, being subject 10. 
fungus and other attacks, and sensitiv? 
to momentary changes from cloud 
sunshine, from sunshine to storm, and 
from moist to dry atmospheric conditions 
so that happy is the head grower after he 
lifts a choice lot of rooted cutting® 
showing a fair or extra good « strike 
When finally potted, the young plants 
are still very tender and a little too mUC 
or tvo little sun or under or over wate? 
ing may prove fatal, and even after 
having started fairly on the journey ° 
life their enemies are legion; mildew 
black spot, red spider, leaf rollers, and @ 
host of other pests are seeking theit lives 
by night and by day. 
—‘Florista’ Exchange” 
{Our readers must remember wher 
dates are mentioned in this article ie 
the American seasons are about oppo 
to ours, When we are having sum?! 
it is their winter, and vice versa.—}? 
