Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-31
AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.
The Autumn Work Among the Flowers
PoTTING ROSES FOR THE wINTER-How PLANTS ARE
PACKED For SHIPMENT AC


Although no additions, by way OF new buildings,
have been made In the Botanical Gardens during
the past season, the neatness and good taste dis
played In the exhibit rooms seem more beautiful
than ever and attract much attention. Strangers
visiting this city seldom go away without spending
an hour or two here and the garden presents at all
times an animated scene. Passing through the
exhibition rooms STAR reporter crossed Maryland
avenue into the propagating gardens Roses were
there being potted for next years This is done
tn white river sand, generally brought from the
Eastern branch.
ABOUT 25OO0 ROSES.
comprising about 400 varieties have daily been
potted. The cuttings are clipped from the ma
tured wood OF the past year, the most vigorous and
thrifty branches being used In cutting these
branches up into little bits to be put into the
white sand, the expert endeavors to retain a
branch in each piece, but when this is impracti-
cable the plain wood between the branches is
used. Generally the sOfteSt and youngest wood is
used. The sand Is wet and packed hard on the
elevated tables, on troughs, which run the entire
length OF the hot houses, the rows Of the cuttings
being about two inches apart. The cuttings are
let in pretty deep and they remain there from
three to four weeks before they develop sufficiently
to be potted. The pots into which the cuttings
are first placed are termed thumb pots, as in pot
tihg the thumbs are used In packing the soil
around the cuttings They are quite small, and
The sol for packing them is composed of two
parts loan, one part leaf mould, one part ma
nure ana one part sand The rose plants require
to be lett standing about two months in most
hot hot house before they are again repOtted.
rms time the pots are larger. being three inches
inside diameter. and deeper The bulbs from the
small pots are set on and surrounded with fresh
SOIL and III this state remain till spring, the season
for distribution Among the most popular kinds Of
roses are the pear desjardns, "La France souvenir
de MalmalSon, COmpt de la Carthe, MarechalNeil,
La Marque, Safrano, Bon Salem. Queen Scarlet,
ana Duke OF Marlborough. They are distributed
with DINER plants to different scientific societies
ana prominent individuals throughout the country,
who take an interest in botany and horticulture.
ABOUT dozen varieties Of roses are generally in
clhded with other plants, making some $50 alto
gether to one order The varieties OF other plants
included consist OF begonias, heliotrOpes different
cape essamines, lilies, lily bulbs, tube-rose bulbs,
madeira bulbe, &c.
HOW PLANTS ARE PACKED.
Inc packing of these plants requires great care
and experience. They are taken from the pots
While the soil is moist enough to cohere and hold
Its shape, which is wrapped in brown paper and
folded fiat on the bottom of the pot, the paper
reaching about two-thfrds the length of the stem,
leaving the top foliage exposed. Straw is freely
USED In packing, so to keep them from loStling
eacn other and to give elasticity to the mass They
are shipped IN this way to all parts of the country.
Many other plants are sent off requiring much
more care and trouble in packing. There are hun
dfedS or Interesting objects Of study connected
with these gardens, such the discovery. culture
ana development OF new plants which occasionally
are received from various parts OF the world The
mind OF Mr.. VIM. r. Smith, the SUPERINTENDENT is
constantly employed among these pets Of his. 1t
was bis Intention to have erected an additional
room for the extension OF his floral displays, but
THIS Is unayoidaby delayed. owing to the small APP
Ing has been done to the buildings in the way of
painting and glazing.