The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-13

if it comes in contact with the foliage.
Shrubs can be transplanted with en-
tire safety Immediately after they have
completely ripened the growth of the sea-
son. This is indicated by the fall of the
foliage. In transplanting them disturb the
roots as little as possible. Keep all roots
which are unavoidably exposed covered
with wet sacking or moss while out of
the ground. If any. are mutilated, cut
them off smoothly with sharp knife. Be
fore lifting any shrub have the place
where 1t is to be planted ready for 1t, and
be sure to have it large enough to allow
for a natural disposal Of all its roots After
filling in with fine soil about the plant,
water we'll. All transplanted shrubs should
be pruned sharply at planting time; as a
general thing, third Of the old wood
shouldrbe removed. Provide yourself with
a good pruning knife and see that 1t Is
kept sharp enough to make smooth
clean cut. A dull knife that "haggles"
away the wood should never be tolerated.
Pruning can be done to advantage in
fall among such shrubs as are not laid
down and covered in winter. These lat
ter should be left for spring pruning. There
can be no hard-and- fast rules to how
to prune or how much to prune. The
character and habit Of the shrub must de-
termine this to a great extent. Some have
but few branches. These will require no
thinning out, but simply a shortening,
which will induce the production of side
branches. thus giving more bushy and
compact plant than would be likely If the
plant were left to itself. Other shrubs
make such rampant growth that they
soon become thtcket. These should be
thinned out, leaving the plant open to a
free circula ton Of air. Old and weak
wood should always be removed. BY yearly
attention to this matter we may renew a
to nd
always strong. provided we feed it well.
But care must be taken in pruning to
discriminate between shrubs which pro-
duce flowers in spring from buds formed
In fall, like those of the lilac, and those
which make growth In spring before
blooming. The latter may safely be pruned
now, but all belonging to the class of
which the lilac is a representative should
not be pruned until after the completion
OF the Towering period. TO prune such
shrubs at this season is to destroy next
springs crop Of flowers.
Roses are generally considered hardy
plants, except at the extreme north, but
the fact is, few varieties are sufficiently
hardy to stand the severity Of winter north
Of Philadelphia without protection. They
may come through safely for some years
in succession. Then a peculiar season
happens along and our bushes are almost
ruined by 1t. In order to make sure of
wintering them well IT. is quite necessary
to protect them in some way. Some per-
sons gather the stalks together and wrap
them in straw from the ground up. This
method Is not always satisfactory. The
best system Of protection for the rose of
which 1 have any knowledge is that of
bending the bushes down upon the ground
and covering them with soil to the depth
Of five or six inches. This plan, how
ever. is adapted only to locations where
surface water will run away steadily
Stagnant water about rose branches in
spring, before it is safe to uncover them,
will always severely injure them. In bend
ing down the bushes, preparatory to COW
ering them, great care should be taken
not to break or crack the stiff and some
what brittle stalks. Make your bends
slowly and gently In order to allow the
branches to accommodate themselves tC
the strain put upon them. When you have
them fiat upon the ground lay piece OF
sod upon them to hold them in proper po-
sition until you can give them their final
covering. Lay them all in the same d.
rection and as close together as possible tc
economic In covering material. Old anC
large stalks and the great canes Of the
climbing roses are exceedingly difficult tt
manage without 1njuring them. TO avoiC
the risk of breaking them, as the result
| OF too abrupt a bend would advise heap
| on the side towards which the stalks are
| to be bent, and bending the bushes over
| it carefully and slowly. This substitutes
curves for sharp bends and greatly simpli
f1es the work Of caring for stubborn plants
If soil is used as covering, let it be as ligh
and porous as possible. Leaves are excel
lent, if one can get enough Of them. Lay
boards or evergreen branches or wire net
ting over them to prevent their being
blown away. The harder sorts Of hybrid
tearoses should have their tops cut of
close to the ground and be covered will
at least foot of leaves, confined within
pen of boards or an old box.
| The teas and so-called -blooners-;
class comprising the Bengal, Noisette AM
Chinese roses-are so tender that the,
cannot be expected to survive the rigor
OF northern winter unless they are give,
the very best Of protection. Even then the,
cannot always be depended on. Severa
methods are employed Some pack stray
snugly about the plants and cover it will
tour or five inches Of earth. Others maxi
little bundles of straw and lay two tier
of them all about the plants at RICH
angles, thus making a sort of house O
straw, which is filled in with leaves or lit
ter, with a roof of evergreen branches
Either OF these methods, if carefully car
ried out, will bring through rs per cent O
the plants safely Those who cannot OBJ
tain straw can use earth alone, puttin
leaves, litter, or other refuse on top, wit
wire netting to hold it in place if ever
green boughs are not to be had. If on
fears to trust these roses to outdoor win
tering, they can be lifted late in fal
packed closely together in boxes of sol
and stored in the cellar. There they Shout
be kept cold and dry. In April they ca
be set out in the garden. Most of ther
will winter safely in this way, but we d
not get such growth from them as fror
those left in the ground The tops Of thes
tender roses should be cut away befor
covt1ing or lifting. All we care to say
is the roots. The ideal covering is snow
l have several times had very tender var
cites covered with snow before had give
them any attention whatever. Every on
Of the plants so covered which RENAME
covered until spring came through in es
cellent condition. If all our roses cOu]
have snow drift to winter in there wou]
be no difficulty about bringing the,
through in good condition.
Roses should not be uncovered in sprin
until the weather becomes settled TIC
early removal of protection is often TO
lowed by cold weather, which Injuries tt
plants quite as much as exposure durin
] the winter would. Zone swallow doesn