Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23
Wrissa for Ths Evening Star.
HINTS TO ROSE GkowERs.
Climate.

WIT AMArxrRs % FREQUENTLY YArr- THE
YLoRDrs' KxPrRrEScR NOT ALWAYS TEE BEST
-THE BEST RosI Bxp-wuERR 10 PLANT TEE
Spszka
WAsHNGToN Is BEGINNING TO HOLD
w her annual rose show, for though
June is popularity known 40 ''the month Of
roses" the capital commences TO deck herself
with the queen Of flowers in the latter part OF
May.
Strangers fortunate enough 70 visit here In
May and June always lavish praises on the lux
uriant foliage shading its broad avenues and
the roses Of every hue impartially adjoining the
homes of the rich and poor. And year by year
TIE residents Of Washington show an increas-
ing disposition to cultivate THU fairest Of fow-
era In May and early June one sees every
where busy hands engaged in setting out new
bushes 10 take the places Of those " hich have
daed during the winter, or cutting beds in door
yards Alas disappointment often follows.
Amateur culuvatos wonder Why the roses 90
iavishly praised in florists catalogues refuse TO
grow; why the ''rich crimson eloquently de-
seribed takes on a muddy tint or shows hue
many shades paler.
RRAsoS OF FAILURE.
encouragement follows the eagerness with
which the amateur gardener has planted,
weeded and watered. Novices in rose culture
perhaps even some washingtonians who have
been experimenting several years-may possi-
bly, BE- glad to have q solution Of this riddle.
which the writer was several years in solving
namely: Directions found in the catalogues
naturally give the results Of the experiences Of
me florists who publish them and these e.
Periences vary with the climate. Roses which
N New York and Pennsylyania have q beauti-
f1i crimson hue lose their brilliant tints under
me almost tropical sunshine Of our city. and
flowers which open fully UNDER climatic con-
diuons which favor a slower development
diminish in size and sometimes fail to bloom OF
AL in the fierce heat of our summers.
On the other hand many plants which north
efn florists do not recommend for open air
culture because they are not sufficiently hardy,
with little protection, such as strewing leaves
aud straw over the branches and tying ever
green boughs around them, or even using the
latter only, will pass through our milder win
ters unframed and show in spring a wealth
OF beautiful blossoms.
THE hAREcHAL MEL.
Tor instance, one of the most desirable climb
ers, Is useless for outdoor cultivation in New
York, yet in Washington, by carefully covering
with straw, it will survive FIVE out Of six win
ters The best position to choose for it is
against the northern side of house-not the
southern where many place delicate roses in
the belief that they will fare better because IL
Is the warmest. On the contrary, the warm
sun sends the sap upward. makes the buds swell
and renders the bush more liable TO injury
when the next ''cold snap" comes This is the
reason that q so-called warm winter" when
there are only few freezing days At rare in
tervals, proves far more disastrous 70 rose
bushes than one of almost constant cold from
December until April.
A very successful rose grower in this city
aid short time ago that he was sometimes
inclined to believe that his bushes would do
better with no covering at all rather than with
even the light one Of leaves heaped about their
roots, which he uses. He added, however, that
he had always been afraid TO risk il lest WASH
ington might chance to have that year one Of
the exceptionally cold winters, which at rare
intervals comes to remind US Of the chilling
north.
Questions relating to the varieties Of roses
which thrive best in this climate have been so
frequent that list Of the climbers and bushes
proved best by experience-our little yard has
sometimes contained 200 bushes, obtained from
florists In all parts Of the country-may be Of
service 70 those about purchasing and in doubt
which OF the hundreds 90 lsuded in the cats
logues to choose.
THE ROSE BED.
The small piece of land in front of the aver
age twenty-foot-wide house usually looks best
with circular bed three and a half feet in diam.
eter cut in the center Of the square Of turf.
What shan be put in this bed? Its size will
permit twenty-three bushes set nine
space that permits them the needfui
amount Of sun and air. II the object of this
bed is merely to ornament the yard the poly
antha roses are the best choice. They all
bloom profusely and are hardy. II the bushes,
however. are to serve the double purpose OF
outside adjournment and table or room decora-
ton select the following, which cannot fail to
do well. let the amateur gardener be never 90
inexperienced:
GOOD LIST.
First, Ga France,"a hybrid tea, blooming
constantly, beautiful in shape and color and
exquisite in fragrance; 'Bride," snow white
(tea); Duchess de Brabant, pink Ctea); Etoile
de Lyon, yellow (tea); Madame Joseph
schwartz, pale pink; Marie Van Houtte. yellow
(tea); Queens Scarlet, red (China); Malmaison,
(China); Coquette de Lyon, yellow (tea). This
Is far less beautiful than "Etoile," but blooms
more freely.
the best hardy ones are the Madame Alfred
Carrier and the "Reine Marie Henriette."
The former bears blossoms of q rich creamy
white, very double and very fragrant. II should
be planted against . high WALL as il is Of very
vigorous growth. The latter, .'Reine Marie
Henriette,"s hybrid tea. bears beautiful red
blossoms.
HYBRID PERPEruALs.
Another species Of roses which are very de-
sirable for cultivation, though not suitable for
bedding, are the hybrid perpetuals, which
bloom profusely in June, and occasionally
through the summer and autumn. Some of our
most popular varieties belong to this class, and
ii may be mentioned that the bushes produce
their most beautiful blossoms in the autumn.
when the branches bear comparatively few
buds, and consequently develop them to per-
lection.
OF the long list, the one which blooms
most freely is the well-known Jacqueminot-a
brilliant crimson. Madame Charles Wood.
scarlet bordering on crimson. Dinsmore scar
let bordering on crimson Baroness Roths-
child, an exquisite rose pink. Coquette des
Alpes, snow white. Mrs. John Lang, pink
Paul Neron, pink. Madame Gabrielle Linzet,
pink. Madame Masson, deep rose color.
This list OF course, contains very few Of the
large number OF roses named in catalogues and
many other desirable ones might be mentioned;
bloomsfs, others require special care in culti-
walton, and others do not thrive in our climate.
But whoever chooses from the varieties emu
merated may be assured of having roses TO
sdorn the home from May till December, and
sscaps the annoyance Of wasting time and
money on plants which, however desirable in
other localities, will not flourish here
Wife (proudly)-'T saved you 81 900 today"
Husband-"Saved q 900? We haven't that
much to save. We haven't el00 We can call
our own. Hang me II We have over elo,
come to think"