The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-12
THE ADVERTISER co.

Entries for The Advertisers Amateur Gardners Contest continue to come in. still more are wanted. It is positively known that many contemplate coming into the contest, and if you are one of them. clip out the entry blank in this issue of The Advertiser and bring or send 1t to The Advertiser today:
 The following interesting article on gardening. from The Louisville Post fur nishes bright suggestions:
 Many friendship is formed by gar dcnfng and deligh-fui acquaintances are thus constantly made and extended. Grad ually all the regular rose-growers, for instance. of community get to know one afiother.
 Thus the best in this line become na- tionally and internationally noted and appreciated. Cecil John Rhodes. whose death and wonderful life now make an uppermost thought throughout civiliza- tion, was an enthusiastic and devoted rose-culturist while he was engaged in empire-building. The flowers lent them selves to the good only of what there was in Rhodes.
 Every rose growing in the open ground and not already pruned should be pruned without delay. Cut away the weak wood and leave that which Is vigorous. Thin the shoots sufficiently to allow room for healthy development of those allowed to remain. And all such even ought to be cut back some-trim back to a bud that Is altogether strong.
 The rose is chiid of the sun-a child that calls for the generous support to be gathered from a soil that is both deep and rich. The principal digging of the rose bed should be done in the fall Any damage then done to the roots in the course of this work has time to get re- paired and be all the better when spring arrives; if damage is so done in the spring there is no such time for making repairs.
 that should be done in the soil of the rose bed in the spring. Dig in the fall and give the bed a good coating of ma nure--cow manure is-the best for. this.
 The undecomposed parts of this ma nure will do duty as mulch-a treat ment just right for the rose-all through the year.
 By doing the digging as recommended the soil is made just right for receiving and holding for use by the plant the greater part of the fertilizing elements given off by the manure.
 If young roses are set out in the right sort of soil this spring. in soil properly enriched and deepened-and the sooner they are set out the petter-thev should, under anything like fair care and cul- ture, make substantial bushes in the course of this years growing season.
 Such young plants would. If set out in the fall. bo very apt to perish during the winter-they certainly would perish in severe winter unless given extra protec- ton.
 If we are to have but one flower, let it be the rose. And this one flower has beauty enough. variety practically with out limit. and the sweetness of fragrance to make it an object worthy of the sp,- cial attention of eve1 an empire-builder.
 1t is h.id that only those who kr)w flowers. fruit and vegetables. as they are in all their freshness where they grow, know them at their best.
 The garden. the flower. helps both the inside and the outside of the home-ad- vantages every human condition most comp-ehensively.
 In the gardening arrange for the little ones of the family to take hand. Order comes in here in it's kindliest mood. There can be no good gardening without foresight and systematic arrangement.
 But this should not be allowed to de-