Evening star., 1899-04-15
THE OUTDOOR ROSE
Successful Culture of the Queen Of
Flowers.
BEST BLOOMS FOR home GARDENS
Old Time Favorites and New Beau
ties in the Field.
PROPER WAY TO PLANT
BEST BLOOMS FOR home GARDENS
PROPER WAY TO PLANT |

Written for The Evening Star.
The rose has always been the supreme
favorite among flowers, and will remain
so to the end of the chapter. This being
a practical article, pure and simple, the
tendency to sentimentalize on the subject
must be violently suppressed; and the glow
ing adjectives, the romantic stories. the
poetical images that rush to the pens
point when the word rose is mentioned,
seized upon and instantly strangled.
Beloved as the rose is by all classes and
peoples, the prevailing ignorance regarding
it's nature and habits is astonishing. The
majority of people buy whatever attracts
them, and go off with their prize to be
grtevously disappointed when a hardy re-
montant (miscalled ''perpetuaT) rose does
not so on blooming like tea or monthly
rose, or through ignorance of the plants
requirements something equally unpleas-
ant occurs.
Science of Rose Culture.
The truth Is that rose culture is a science,
and the finest results are reached only by
hard work, infinite pains and knowledge
of the right methods We gaze at the mar
velous display of the florists and compar-
Ing 1t with our own meager success con-
clude that they possess some secret of cui-
tivation by tacit understanding kept from
the public at large. But in point of fact,
as any one can find out for himself by
visiting any rose-growing establishment,
there is no other secret involved than that
which lies at the root of all real success.
First learn what to do, then do it. Hav-
ing studied into the methods employed, and
observed the labor, the care, the cost in
volved in their production. one ceases to
protest at prices which place the finest
roses on the list of luxuries attainable only
by the rich or the extravagant.
Short but Fragrant Life.
In about one year the plant producing
these beauties has. completed it's cycle of
existence; beginning with the tiny cutting
sending It's rootlets into the moist sand;
ending in the exhausted plant flung upon
the rubbish heap to perish. At first the
young plants are frequently cut back, all
buds removed and everything done to pro-
mote strong roots and base. Then it is en-
couraged to throw up shoots from the roots,
or in some varieties from the stalk near the
ground. Only the terminal bud is permit
ted TO mature on most sorts, and 1T is thus
that the enormous long-stemmed roses are
secured There are some exceptions to this
latter rule-the Pearl Of the Garden, for
instance, that full, fragrant yellow rose
that has almost taken the place Of the
Marechal Mel. The terminal buds the
shoots of this rose never develop perfectly,
and should be removed as soon as they ap-
pear, when lateral branches will at once
start and give fine blooms. The same is
Il uc III lLlt meteor. Besides the in
roofing and pruning, the temperature of the
hothouses has to be regulated; spraying
lumlSatlon etc, etc, strictly attended to-
ana nature does the rest. If there is any
mystery involved 1t is in natures hidden
processes, which no human mind NAV pen
citrate.
outdoor Roses Harder to Raise
Some OF the rules given are applicable to
out-of-door culture, especially as regards
pruning, disbudding and spraying, but the
obstacles to success are a thousand-foid
greater, and the results in our variable
cllmate most uncertain. There is a fasci-
nation beyond words in collecting roses
ana repeated disappointments only in
crease the ardor of one who has once fallen
under the spell. Still. most people would do
better to confine their selection to we'll
krown and tested sorts
as tnese hlnts are meant only for the
amateur, who must work on a small scale
oEly few simple rules and suggestions are
offered, with all the modesty and perfect
appreciation of their limitations In regard
10 sltoaton-remember, roses will not
IrrlVe IN damp, close, shady situation
Ihey must have abundance of air and sun
shlne. rich soil and careful culture If tha
sou Is poor naturally, it must be removed
dnu dir., repiaced with prepared soil to the
oepth OF two feet. If only few roses are
TO be planted, it would be best to get the
SOIL of florist If much is needed. II NAV
De prepared by mixing top soil from fell
'-N-' eN'cNl Oil eludl portion OF good
posi-; thoroughly worked in. If the soil is
sandy, litue clay should be added Rv
an means avoid patronizing the scoun.
dIelly street vendors of what appears to the
casual eye to be rich Garth" but is In
TACT, street sweepings, largely coasisting cf
crumbied asphalt, warranted to Destroy
anything planted in it,
Plant on May Day,
whenever practicable select your roses
from local florists that you may see with
your own eyes what you are paying for.
IL is not really safe to plant roses grown
ullder glass before May !, but field-grown
Piahts may be set out much earlier. Wet
me foots thoroughly and pack the soil
ABOUT them firmly. If this is carefully done
tmese ines pants Will not know they have been
transferred, and keep right on growing
though, II possible, 1t is well to nrofeet
them from cold winds for some time tn
come. 1T Is much better to obtain bushes
a. q. ieast TWO years old. Younger than that
nara winter. and give but few and poor
blooms the first season. Cut back nach
branch after blooming; then new shoots
bloom. ~
Diseases and Insects.
Ihe diseases and insect enemies of the
rose are many and obstinate, but not to be
dlscourag1ng. only those most common and
most easily overcome will be noted here.
The green aphis generally makes an early
appearance. attacking the young shoots in
such numbers as to completely conceal the
young wood. AS fumigation out of doors
Is not practicable. a solution Of tobacco
water, made by boiling tobacco stems in
the proportion of four ounces of stems to
one gallon of water. should be applied with
a syringe or atomizer. This should be done
In the evening. and repeated until the aphis
disappears. The red spider is another most
destructive insect, attacking the under side
OF the leaves and destroying the plant in a
snort time II not checked. Spraying with
a solution of whale oil soap or Kerosene
emulsion In such way as to reach the
under side OF the foliage is the remedy.
Daily Swinging with cold water in the
same way will prevent the appearance of
this pest. which also attacks the sweet pea
nasturtium and other garden plants. An
ounce of prevention, &c, &c A good rule
for making the kerosene emulsion is here
given:
How to Mix the Medicine.
Dissolve one-quarter pound of brown soap
in two quarts of boiling water To this add
one pint of oil and mix thoroughly. Then
add two gallons of cold WA for and Sti f,a