Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-03-11

LADIES Auxiliary OF the COmmeTcldl
Club may be productive OF the best
results, these suggestions about the
planting and care OF roses may not
be out of place at this time.
The winter climate of Grants Pass
is so mild that rose bushes come
through their dormant season with
very little, If any, winter killed
wood. AS roses are subject to- the
rayages OF the San Jose scale II Is
necessary that they be sprayed thor
oughly with sulphur spray before
the new sprouts become too long.
Roses sprayed before March 15 will
probably suffer no injury. The spray
ing process will not only destroy the
scale, but will act as preventive OF
other pests and diseases Pruning
Is one Of the most important things
at this time of the year. The long
growing season produces surplus
of wood for next seasons blooming,
and the pruning shears must be Wig
orously used. Usually at least half
of the bush can be cut out or cut
back. Two special rules can be men
toned, namely, TO cut out all dead
wood and to cut off all weak or
sickly twigs. The strong growing
varieties should be cut back without
fear of OVERRIDING 1t, while slow grow
ing plants and climbers should be
kept within bounds. The general
object should be to keep the bush
open in the center and have 1t in
condition to mature the heavy crop
Of blossoms Of May and June. Roses
like La France and Caroline Testout
need much more pruning than The
Bride, Catherine Mermet and Maman
Cochet. You must adapt your prun-
ing to the needs of the variety.
Climbing roses need little pruning.
only the dead wood must be cut out
and the bushes kept open to sun and
air.
New roses can be successfully
planted up to June /, but March and
April are the best months. While 1t
Is possible to buy good roses In the
Sixteen for dollar" collections, the
better way is to buy two-year-old
plants, as In the latter case the roses
will give large crop Of blossoms
In the first season.
In setting out your new roses be
careful not to plant them near large
trees or where there is little or no
sun. The roots OF large trees cover
more space than one would think
and roses will not do we'll where the
deeper soil Is drained OF its strength
by tree roots. The soil for your rose
bed should be spaded deep and thor
oughly pulverized. A liberal amount
OF stable manure spaded in the pre-
vious fall will be OF immense benefit.
Set your roses no closer than three
feet apart each way, and make the
hole large enough and deep enough
TO hold an ordinary water pail
Spread the roots of the new bush so
they will not be crowded, and aft
In the earth, pressing II firmly
around the roots and stalk, being
careful TO plant the rose Just trifle
deeper than the earth line of the
previous planting. New roses should
always be pruned, chafed or dead
wood cut out and superfmous
branches removed, leaving an open
bush with branches six inches long
Severe cutting back will be beneficial
In enabling the new rose to make
good start In its changed location
II your ground Is not OF the best, II
will be well 20 sift In handful OF
commercial fertilizer with the loose
earth when planting the rose Dur
ing the full growing season keep the
ground loose and work Il often. The
new roses should bloom well by June
and after the first heavy blooming
the plants should be allowed TO rest
during half OF July and August. To-
ward the last of August liberal
watering will make them sprout with
renewed yigor, and you will have fine
roses until the severe frosts Of the
late fall
These hints regarding the care OF
roses during the season apply to old
as well as new paintings. As early
IA the ground can be worked old
rose beds should be treated 10 gen
erous supply Of coarse stable man
ure, which should be well spaded un-
der 4 loose porous soil with plenty
of fertilizer viii cause your roses
TO smile with fragrant protusiou dur
ing the whole summer. A short PERI
od OF rest In August Is advisable. and
the water may be given Tor the tall
cror, which often gives blooms SUR
nassiuu In color and fragrance thosp