The sun., 1909-02-14
SPRING CARE OF ROSES
DIRECTIONS FROM AN EXPERT
FOR BEGINNERS.
Rules for Pruning-Preparation or ths
Bed-Fighting the Pests-Varieties 10
seiect-Buddod Bushes and Own
Rect Bushes-For Quick Resu,ts

to begin to think seriously Of their pets
In this climate spring planting gives the
best results and by the middle of March
the pruning Of the hardy varieties should
be over and done with
The speaker was one OF the most Eic.
oessful rose growers on the north shore
OF Long Island. She boasts that she has
loved and grown roses since she was
and the beauty and perfection Of her
gardens would make any one belieye
her statement.
"The more tender varieties OF ro,e.
should be pruned q month later. aha
went on. "The general rule for PRUNING
is The stronger the growth of the plant
the less It should be pruned. Climber.
and pillar roses merely have the dead
old or weak wood cut out and the re.
naming shoots trimmed back
1T is always best TO prepare a new
rosebed the previous autumn. but wher.
this ls not practical then you must get to
work as soon as possible in the spring
The site for rosebeds should be open, with
the soil dug to depth Of at least two
feet and thoroughly rnanured. Beds
should be narrow, so that all bushes can
be easily reached and the surface OF tba
beds may be frequently cultivated with.
out bruising the bushes Unnecessarily,
After planting my roses. especially
hybrid teas OF teas, / am careful to hays
the plants protected for the first ten day,
or so by a covering Of loose hay or other
light material to avoid the effects Of ths
suns heat or a possible late frost. Tbs
beds should be constantly cultivated until
the middle Of July. when they should be
heavily mulched with well spent manure.
30 that the moisture OF the ground may be
retained. II Is then that liquid manure
may be applied to best advantage for pro.
ducing a profusion Of blooms.
After the rose has been properly
planted the next thing to look after Is
the numerous pests that beset the bushes
in this climate. For the aphis and other
sucking insects I spray my bushes with
solution OF whale oil soap or sulphur
tobacco, one pound to eight gallons Of
water. For mildew or black spot spray
with normal Bordeaux mixture In the
early season. before mid July, thess
sprays can be diluted one half.
For the worst enemy Of the rose, the
roso bug. the plants must be sprayed
with arsenate Of lead. one pound to hv,
gallons of water. This should be apphed |
when the pests first appear, which with
me Is during the first week Of June. This i
first dose should be followed by second
two weeks later il it is needed, which il
generally the case. After these two
applications hand picking will keep the
bushes clear OF the pests. 1t should bs
done in the early morning.
These few general rules are suited
TO all varieties Of roses in this climate
After this it is necessary TO know the
variety in order to advise about their
care intelligently.
"The selection Of variety depends upon
what the grower desires. Properly &C.
| lected hybrid teas and teas will bloom
more than three months and have their
/ brightest colors in the autumn.
| Where the grower is to return TO town
I in September OF course these varieties
are not so desirable, as his rose beds will
/ be at their best just at the time he must
/ leave them. Under such conditions the
rose beds are best composed almost
exclusively of hybrid perpetual varieties,
which are at their best through June and
early in July.
Whatever the variety there s one
rule that | always try to impress on the
! beRinner-never mix them. Teas and
| hybrids can be planted together. but
! hybrid perpetuals should be in separate
| beds, as their forms Of growth and their
needs are radically different
THE grower who wishes roses for I
cutting throughout the season will Ger |
tainly get the best satisfaction from |
the harder teas and the beautiful varie- |.
ties Of the hybrid teas, because Of their
longer period Of bloom. In buying thess
varieties it is best to get plants that
! have been budded in the open
"They will cost a little more, but thg
not only give better blooms the first season
but will withstand the cold Of our winten \
much better than those grown indoors
Personally I do not believe that either
| hybrid teas or teas raised partially or
wholly under glass can be relied on 70
withstand the winters as far north Al
New York.
Roses raised out OF doors in California
and the Southern States can be had
for considerably less than those raised
here, but the transfer Of plants from
warmer to a colder climate has never
been satisfactory with me- There is
also dispute about the relative merits OF
budded and own root bushes.
$50 far as l am concerned much pre-,
fer the budded plants. ! have found
them more vigorous. producing nner
blooms, coming into bloom sooner and
lasting longer than the non-budded
bushes. / have found that they give
fair amount Of blooms the tirst year.
and each subsequent year adds 70 their
that / have found TO budded plants
is where the wood OF the wild rose Is al
lowed to send up shoots and sap the
strength from the budded branches:
OF course where this happens the result
is inevitably fatal.
while / have found that certain
varieties, such as the Magma Charta.
the Caroline Testout and the Urioh
Drummer do we'll on their own roots.
I have also discovered that the Viscountsss
Folkestone and Refine Marie Henriette
are both worthless unless budded; Whlle
some rose growers think that the brler
is the best stock on which TO bud haruy
roses, | have found that the Manetn
is the safest in a climate as dry as ours.
/ have also found that the seeding crimson
rambler makes still more desiraoie
budding stock. II is extremely marcy
and vigorous and does well almost every
where.
IF one is willing to buy imported
budded stock which has been started IN
pots by American growers especially
for spring planting | shou d always ad-
wise them to do so in the beginning A
beginner is never willing 10 be dlsan
pointed He wants the best possible
results in the least possible time.
"By using these pot started rose bushes,
while one will not get as fine or as many
blooms during the first season, he is quite
sure to keep the bush. as there is little
or no danger Of its dying. The one Polnt
in setting out these plants is getting them
in the ground as soon az danger OF severe
-. - ordar chat 4hay NAV liza