Evening star., 1912-01-21

Experts who know the roses of the
world do not hesitate to award to the
United States the premier place in the
production Of the queen Of flowers, both
for the number Of varieties and the quail
ity Of the flowers and plants. 1t Is also
remarkable that the finest roses are not
raised in the southern states, as might
be supposed, but are included among the
prolific crops Of the great northwest
The finest roses in the world are now
grown In Washington and Oregon. For
several years rose festivals have been
held in Portland. which have been quite
worth crossing the continent to see. as
they have in many respects surpassed
any other rose exhibits Of the world
Such festivals are now annual features
of other northwestern cities. The un-
limited varieties shown last June were
the wonder OF fasteners. who went with
the idea that somewhat amateur ex-
hibition would be made. The high per
lection Of the blossoms, no less tnan
the unlimited varieties shown. INDICATED
that within ten years rose culture IN the
west has achieved unparalleled success.
The hybrid tea roses, as well as the per
petual hybrids. have reached Vigor III
this region never looked for by those
who know them only In the short-season
eastern gardens or under the glass rooI
of the greenhouse The whole city OF
Portland seems to be enthusiastic over
roses. One of the public squares In the
center of the city is entirely given over
to them. and in private grounds alons
every street are flowers that are the al
miration Of every visitor.
The eauable climate of the northwest
is especially conducive to rose health.
In winter the
Equable Climate tie mperature
Helps Rose Culture. below freez-
ing, and 1t seldom rises above 20 degrees
in summer. The zero weather of the
north prevents much progress in out-of-
door rose culture, while in the south,
even in California, the hot summers are
too dry for some varieties. Consequent
ly, rose culture is becoming one of the
growing industries of the northwest coast
states. Hundreds OF acres Of roses may
be seen there now, and experiments are
being made which. 1t is thought. will de-
ve.op many varieties hardy enough to be
grown in other localities.
While certain amount OF rose culture
always has been carried on in this coun-
try and in every state, there are found
one or two roses which grow with more
or less profusiCH. The industry has been
revolutionized in the United States since
1879, when several new plants were put
upon the market which seemed especially
adapted to this varying climate. Three
American roses were introduced Daseo
upon Japanese species. These were known
as the Rosa multi1ora, or rambler rose'
the Rosa wichuraiana, or memorial rose.
and the Rosa rugOsa The muitihora mas
its numerous blossoms as Its CHIEF cnar-
acteristic. The wichuraiana has bright
evergreen foliage and July bloom. Inc
ruRosa is a bush rose and gives the best
garden flowers. All of these are more
resistant to disease and insects than any
Of their predecessors. From them nave
been developed numberleSS other Var1etleS,
some Of which have been well received
some of which have been discontinued
after a season or two.
There is no more fascinating work than
rose breeding or securing new varieties
Of roses by the
Breeding Of Roses union OF two or
Fascinating Work. Rose propaga-
ton may be done In several ways, the
most important of which are budding or
grating and the transfer Of pollen. BUD
ding or grating is done by placing a
DUO or RFdII ITOIu UIie pIdhL la eiAS 1ooS|N
stem of another. The transfer OF pollen
is accomplished by placing the two plants
from which new breed is desired in a
by themselves and transfer
ring the pollen from rose on one plant
to the pistils of flower on the other.
The stamens of the receptive plant are
removed before the propagating pollen is
applied. Then the seeds from the fertiliz-
ed plant are carefully gathered and plant
ed. The resulting plants indicate the sue
cess Of the experiment. Sometimes in
several hundred new plants raised from
seeds thus procured there will not be one
having any distinctive features or the re-
suit will not be the one desired. When a
new plant is secured it Is given special
cultivation and the plants produced from
1t may be placed upon the market. Rose
growers are continually searching for
new varieties, but the process Of propa-
cation is a tedious one.
While the United States Department OF
Agriculture has not devoted as much
attention to rose culture as might be
desired, experiments are constantly 60
ing on in the greenhouses at Washing
ton. as we'll as in a number Of the state
experiment stations, and new plants are
frequently originated. This spring a
new pink rose to be known as the Helen
Taft is likely to be placed upon the