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Before the bloom
Anushika Gunawardana discovers the beauty of the rosebud in a Nuwara Eliya greenhouse
"A rose is sweeter in the bud than full blown..." said John Lyly and as I walked into the rose garden of Mascons Agro-Tech Limited, this seemed so true. The sight that greeted me was of rows and rows of rose plants neatly nestled in a rich blend of nutrients, with men and women moving swiftly through, deciding with an experienced glance whether a particular bud was suitable for plucking or not. Sunlight filtered through the high roofs of the greenhouse enveloping the rosebuds in a soft light.

Located 6000 ft. above sea level in Punduloya, Nuwara Eliya, the greenhouses of Mascons Agro-Tech Limited (a member of theMascons Group), are surrounded by lush green hills and breathtaking views. Containing a large number of roses and other flowers, they yield premium quality flowers for export. Since the main focus of the company is the international market, quality is their guiding principle.

Spread over two-and-a-half acres, the garden is a blend of horticultural passion and technological sophistication. The idea originated in the late '90s as a pet project of the Managing Director Mr. Sathiamoorthy, and recognising the potential for growth, large-scale investments were made and in 1999, the first plant was placed in the ground. Since then the company has made a name for itself internationally, exporting a wide variety of flowers to various parts of the world.

The process from the planting of the sapling to the cutting of the bud is a complicated one, involving much skill and supervision. Initially imported from France, today the rose saplings are mostly got from Holland. They have to be tended with the utmost care, using correct irrigation methods and suitable fertilization, for the fragile plants are prone to diseases that are quick to attack.

Once the saplings have taken root, they can be used for a few years. They flower frequently allowing the workers to cut buds twice a day. If a flower has bloomed, it is discarded since only the buds are suitable for export. Ideally, the flower should bloom after reaching its destination. A skilled and highly trained staff through constant care and observation ensures that this growth cycle is not hampered in any way,.

The entire operation of irrigation and fertilization is done with sophisticated technology. Plants receive the necessary nutrients mixed with water at particular times. Water stored in tanks is injected with fertilizer and brought to a level where the PH value is 5.5 and the electrical conductivity about 1.3. This mixture is piped into the greenhouses, which are also computerised so that they open and close on their own for heating and air purposes.

Once plucked, the buds are stored in a cool room for 24 hours at a temperature of seven degrees Celsius in a special solution. The premium quality buds are then kept in yet another cool room to retain their pristine quality. It is indeed a rare pleasure to walk into a roomful of roses of various sizes and colours, and inhale their sweet scent. Since the rooms are tightly packed with roses the scent is indeed quite strong.

Next the excess leaves are removed and the buds graded according to the stem length. In the world of floral enthusiasts the flowers with the longest stems are the most appreciated. This process requires nimble fingers that can sort out the buds, taking care not to damage them. Then they are wrapped, packed and loaded into cool room containers ready for export.

The quality of these buds is measured according to the bud size and the number of days involved from 'cut to cut'. Roses retain a special place for export with Magnum, Leonidas, Pretty Woman, Wiltura, Grand Gala, Sahara, Golden Starlite, Black Baccara and Spanish Dancer being the main varieties. For those who keep an eye out for the thorns in roses, there is a thornless variety called Grangala.

The other types of flowers grown include Liliums, Heather and Gypsofilla (which many know as Babies' Breath). The latter has often eluded local growers since it requires a very high level of expertise and skill. Yet the company was able to take on the challenge and the risk, and emerge a winner.

A BOI company, Mascons Agro-Tech Limited exports the bulk of its produce to the Middle East, Singapore, Japan and sometimes to Holland as well. Mr. S. Sarath Chandra, a director of the company, maintains this is a business in which one needs to invest not just capital but also a heart-felt passion for the plants and flowers under one's care. The only way to develop such sensitivity and sincere feeling is to get some hands-on experience, which can lead to fresh insights about taking care of something that you feel strongly about.

I drove away from the Mascons rose gardens with a new appreciation for the delicate rosebuds. Most often caught up in the glory of the full-blown rose, we overlook the subtle beauty of the bud that holds untold promise. Knowing the tender care invested in the whole process that ultimately produces the rose as we see it, makes the enjoyment of the bloom that much more potent.

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