The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-14
MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL,
Proper Methods for ERTiChilg The Soil for
Roses.

The rose Ia the favOrte hardy Towering
plant. 1t is raised everywhere. The coun-
try and city dweller alike rear rose-bushes.
However small the homestead if there is an
available spot of ground the rose is planted,
says Vick's Magazine for June. Sometimes
there is only scant room for its roots and a
climbing variety spreads its arms and
branches over the house-wall. The sale of
rose plants in this country reaches enormous
proportions, and the demand is steady and
increasing. The average life of the plant is
shOrt-far shorter than it should be. and as
it would be, if the plants were properly
cared for, as for the most part they
are not But shOrtness Of life is not the
only result Of the lack of suitable care
the result in bloom is not what it should
be. and although people will raise roses
they are not satisfied with them. SuppOs-
ing the garden ground where they are
raised is adapted to the plants so far as
relates TO the character of the soil and
drainage, and usually this is so. the most
noticeable fault is the Poverty of the SOIL
Roses are planted around singly. or in BEDS
ON piece OF lawn, aud receive little or no
care; perhaps a little stirring of the soil
about them in the spring and nothing
more. The rose makes a growth which
is almost continuous from the time it
starts in spring until checked by autumn
llOosSs uutlHS luis LlHlO REQUIRES q
constant supply OF lOOd material in such
form as to be readily appropriated by the
roots. Such supply of fertilizing sub
stance should be provided for the plants
every season, and without it the growth
will be stunted and the flowers half starved.
Now, the masses of the people who raise
from one to half-dOZen rose bushes in their
little dOOr-yards quite neglect to provide
fertilizers for their plants. There is moth
Ing better for this purpose than wel-rotted
stable manure but pr0ba bly, for most viii
lage and city residents this material is not
available. Most of the commercial fer
tiliZrrs on the market are excellent IoSe
manures. and they are easily obtained,
easily handled and Immediately avail
able for the use of the plants. A
good brand Of phosphate" then. is
what can be relied upon, ana what
should be generally used. 1t is procurable
in small quantities, is not expensive, is
easily handled and produces excellent re-
suits. How much" some one NAV ask.
'Of this material can be safely applied to
the soil about rose bushV 1t depends
upon the manner in which the plants are
than if set singly in the grass In the latter
case the grass will get the benefit of
a large share Of the fertilizer. The
practice of planting roses singly in
the grass is not good one. Where there
is only a bit of ground it may be done,
because there is no other course, but
wherever there is room the plants should be
set in we'll prepared deep-dug beds which
have good mixture of stable manure hen
first made, even if it is not used afterward.
Ia bed one pound to forty square feet is n
good dressing; ana at $40 a ton the cost is
cents a pound. buying in small quantities
it viii cost more, but even then the expense
is little matter. Plants set singly with
only little circle Of clear ground about
them will need a greater proportiOnate
supply. as their roots will only get a small
part of the application. A quarter of a
pound to plant could be used, giving lit
tie of il every week for three or four weeks
At midsummer there is a check or cessation
of growth with the hybrid perpetual Is for
short period and then a new growth COM
mences. At this time new application Of
fertilizers is desirable. helping the growth
for the fall blooming period. The plants
must be supplied with good fertilizing ma
terial if good bloom is had; the operation
cannot be neglected and good results fol-