Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-07
NO "a.
Miseellaneolls.
CONCERNING ROSES.

seasons, and from every 1uarter-to tell
us something about roses. Tell us how to
treat them. What can we do to have II
rose in our window? We can answer
each query best by answering all at once
and simply stating how roses may be sue
cessfully grown in the drawing room.
Rev. Reynolds Hole says, in his admira-
Bile book about roses, that '.hc who would
have beautiful roses in his garden must
have beautiful roses in his heart. he must
love them well and always. To win he
mustwoo, as Jacob woocd Laban's daugh-
ters, though drought and frost consume
He must have not only the glowing ad-
miration. the enthusiasm and the passion
but the tenderness. the thoughttulness, the
reverence, the watchtulncss of love-
That is the kcv-note TO success. not only
in the cultivation of the rose. but every
other flower as well; it simply means
knowledge is power" without which
you cannot succeed, with which you can
not fail. For house culture the rose is not
so desirable rs many other plants, il con-
tinuous bloom is the main object. neither
is it so snowy in the greenhouse rs many
other plants. An ever-blooming rose
that's, u bush always in tiower-is one that
florist would delight TO see, particularly
if the bud was. from its farm, size and col
or, available for the retail trade. The
rose-house, Il large portion of the year, is
about rs unsightly and rs uninteresting
as any branch of Horticulture the
combined seasons of towering do not
exceed five months in the year, the other
seven months are periods of rest and
preparation.
With proper care and attention roses
can be grown in satisfactory manner in
the conservatory or drawing room. To
that end we would advise all such as must
have roses to commence operations by
throwing away all the old, scraggy plants
they have had in pots for years and COM
mence anew. Then get some new plants
the best for the purpose are those that
have been growing in the open border for
one or two years. 1t matters but little
what variety you prefer; take any hybrid
perpetual, tea, Bourbon or Nois-
cite, one that has had good freezing
and at rest.
Take up carefully, so as not to injurc
the best for this purpose is well-rotted
from the cow stable, one part. When
IOttCu tuIl CstiIuCt Dt oDtstlutu, 2Ct uiC
next best; any new soil, that which un-
derlies the sod of n meadow is good.
Avoid, as you would avoid failure, soil
from the vegetable garden or from the
woods: leafmould. however well adapted
it may be for many plants, is not the home
the rose loves. Choose heavy clay in
preference to a light. sandy soil a heavy,
sweet loan is the more desirable.
In choosing pots, do not select too large
a size use those that will comfortably
hold the roots. that should be shortened
in somewhat, but not bruised; cut off
with sharp pruning shears or knife, say
one third the length. BE careful to have
the roots evenly distributed through the
pot; press the earth firmly around the
roots. and thoroughly water; no fear of
OVERRIDING it.
As soon as potted, or before if more con-
venient. the plant must be well pruned or
cut back this point is one of the essen
tials in rose culture, and must not be over
looked. 1t is simple thing to show one
how to prune the rose, but difficult task
to tell how to do it properly. New wood
of nearly all roses usually starts from the
root in that case cut back to within four
inches of the ground; if the new growth
that of the past year-has started from
above the root, cut still closer in, say to
within two inches of the old wood. DO
not in any case leave any old wood for the
purpose of Towering; when the young
wood starts from the root, cut the old en-
tirely away.
When these operations are completed,
set the pots in cool, dark room or cellar
where they should remain say four weeks
unless in the meantime they commence
rapid growth. in which case they should
be brought into full light and heat-that
of the living room is quite, sufficient.
After the watering the plant received when
potted, no more is required until brought
to the light. At this point much care is
to be Observed give no more than is ac
tually necessary-during the first stages
of growth absorption by the plants slow;
increase the amount as the growth
increases. As soon as the first leaves are
fully developed, sprinkle every morning
with tepid water; for this purpose rub
ber hand-sprinkler is the most convenient.
From this time onward give the plants all
the light and sun possible do not let
them get chill, neither draughts of cold
air, which will surely cause mildew, from
which plants rarely recover.
When the room needs ventilation, lower
the windows only sufficient for the pur-
pose. As long as artificial heat is used,
do not raise the windows to admit warm
air from outside, even though the temper
ature is higher than within. AS preven-
tive of miIdew, the plants should be light
ly busted once a week with the Aour of
sulphur. This is the best applied by max
ing small bag of rather closely-woven
flannel, into which put the sulphur, and
shake over the plants as lightly as posi-
BILE. Should the green fly (aphis) put in
an appearance, immediate steps toward
their destruction must be taken. The
most effective is fumigation, which. :s .
rule, is inconvenient in the living room !;
the next best plan is to dip the plant in
strong soap-suds, and rinse off with clean
water. Follow this plan daily as long as
it is a necessity.
A strict compliance with these instruc-
tions under favorable conditions will
bring not only roses, but good roses, fas
better than many of our greenhouses
yield. with the Indifferent treatment they
are too apt to receive. Alter Towering
the tea roses should be cut we'll back, anf
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