The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-07-15
CULTURE OF ROSES.

One welcomes the first roses not
alone for their beauty, but also as an
indication of genial weather. The
early roses have personal charm and
beauty all their own. Though the
species have been known long time,
and are not rare, they seem to be Gull
tivated mostly in large plantations,
and make their way slowly into small
gardens. Owing to the cool weather,
Rosa rugosa did not precede the other
species at as long an interval as usual,
and the Burnet rose, R. spinosissima,
followed it closely This charming
little rose is perfectly hardy, with
single, creamy white flowers. The
leaves are small, and the thin = stems
bear enough prickles to merit its spe-
cifc name as the very spiniest. 1t
makes neat bush about three feet
high, and is always a striking plant
in the hardy border. 1t is to be, had
readily from seed. J. N. Gerard, of
Elizabeth, N. j., says in Garden and
Forest, that he has been told by a
high authority that Polyantha roses
are not of much account, but he has
in border in his garden a Remontant
form or hybrid of this rose which
could not well be spared. 1t is very
hardy, forms bush about three feet
high, and bears, during the season.
frequent crops of small single flowers
of beautiful pink color.
Another hybrid much valued is the
Dawson rose, which is now coming
into flower. If allowed to grow natur-
ally this is most beautiful plant at
| Towering time, when its long shoots
are covered with small semi-donble
pink flowers in clusters, the buds
opening in succession. A spray SIX
to nine feet long makes glorious
| decoration, and the old wood will
soon disappear for that service, much
to the relief of Mr., Gerard's helper,
who objects seriously to untrammeled
growths. But the growth of this rose
is slight in comparison with that of
Rosa multifora, which in wild luxur-
lance covers twenty-five feet or more
of fence, and would probably spread
over the entire garden if left uncheck-
ed. One is sorry to touch knife to
plant which evidently so enjoys life
and in o few days will be covered
with myriads of fragrant blossoms. A
few, at least, of the large number of
single roses should be in every gar
den.
The general culture of roses offers
some difficulties in this climate, owing
to hot summers and to the special
fondness of many species of insects for
their foliage. 1t has always seemed
that if the small grower would OK
change most of his hardy perpetual
roses usually bought under the i'm
preston that they were perpetual
bloomers) for Teas or hybrid Teas he
would have more satisfaction and rid
his garden of some unsightly objects,
for after the rose season the plants are
usually neglected. Tea roses produce
| flowers all the season, and, naturally,
| their wants are more apt to receive at
tention. Perhaps, on reflection, that
hint will not be of much service
farther north than this, though among
the Teas some will be found much
harder than others. La France re-
quires no protection here; neither
does Auguste Guinoisseau the alleged
white La France. There are other
surviving Tea roses in the garden, but
the most interesting and promising
one is the comparatively new Kaiserin
Augusta; ten plants which came
through the winter untouched are now
growing strongly and are full of we'll
developed buds. This variety pro-
duces an abundance of handsome white
flowers continuously during the sea-
son, and Mr.. Gerard knows of no rose
of its color which is more likely to give
complete satisfaction.