Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-01
Facts for Farmers, Stock
Breeders, Pc uhry Raisers
Orchardists, Truckers and Gar
deners---Queries and Answers
THE ROSE GARDEN

| tBy q. W. Fraser, Connecticut Agricul.
tural CollcscD
I'm planting roses select a site that
| is protected from strong winds in carly
spring and summer. but avoid plant
| ing under big trees. as too much shade
will not give good results. and the
roots Of the trees arc detrimental TO
rose growth.
The ideal location is a south to south
east exposure, where they can have
tho sun for at least thirds OF the
day.
Any good garden soil will do for
roses. provided il is we'll drained. The
fall is the best time to prepare the
ground: spade in a liberal coating Of
stable manure and let stand rough all
, winter. AS soon as the ground is fit to
work in tho spring the soil can he brok-
Gil down with II digging fork and we'll
raked and made ready to plant.
Planting.
The spring is the best time To plant
roses and two-year-old field grown
plants are the best.
In planting be sure that you plant
deep enough TO cover the bud or graft
junction at least two but not more
than three inches: bear in mind that
deep planting is one or the most es-
sential things in rose growing: make
good. wide hole and place the plant
ia position in the center. then spread
the roots SO that they do not cross
one another. sprinkle some fine loan
on top and work il in between them.
then nil in the hole. tampins down the
earth with the foot or stick making
sure the plant Is hrm. The distance
between the plants depends on the
varieties; hybrid perpetuals lake about
two feet apart each way. the teas and
hybrid teas from eighteen inches to
two feet. stronger growing varieties
little more The plants Should be
cut down to within two or three inches
or tho ground after planting.
Pruning.
Pruning is one OF the moet important
parts Of rose culture. and the best time
TO prune is In spring after the frost
is out OF the ground and the buds be-
gin to swell In pruning hybrid per-
petuals first cut out Rll dead and weak
wood, leaving only strong, healthy
canes; cut these back TO FIVE or six
buds. if weak growing varieties cut n
little closer. Teas and hybrid teas re
Quire about the same treatment. only
little more severe cutting back. say.
two or three buds
Climbing roses require practically
no pruning except TO cut away all the
dead wood and any other YOU may
think necessary to prevent crowdinc.
Cultivation.
As soon the frost is out Of the
ground remove the covering that pro-
tected the plants all winter. and il
stable manure WAS used the rough
straw can be raked of and the fine
litter forkcd into the ground along
with some bone meal and wood ashes.
but be- careful not TO dig too deep or
the roots OF the plants may be injured
AS the season advances see that the
ground is kept cultivated and all weeds
kept down, and if the season is very
dry see that the plants get plenty Of
water. When watering 10 sure TO
give enough TO soak the ground wen
and cultivate the next day, so az to
make a mulch on the surface 10 keep
the moisture in the soil.
Insects and Diseases.
Green fly or "aphis" can be con
trolled by spraying with any of the
nicotine extracts sold by seed stores
These are the mos, convenient to use,
but good home mixture can he made
by taking one ounce of blackleaf. four
TO five gallons of water, TO which can
be added about c-halt pound of soft
soap or ivory soap. The spraying must
he very thorough to be successful, as
only those touched by the spray are
killed.
For the rose chafer" little can be
done except TO 20 over the plants and
pick them off and drop them into "a
dish of Kerosene.
The only remedy for red spider is
frequent spraying of the foliage with
water through Il hose, the higher the
pressure the better the results.
For "mildew' dust the foliage with
MOVERS OF sulphur. applying when the
dew is on the plants. Another remedy
is solution Of sulphidc OF potassium,
made as follows: take one-half cake
OF ivory soap and dissolve in boiling
water; At the same time dissolve one
quarter ounce sulphidc Of potassium
III one gallon Of water: add the soap
and stir thoroughly; apply with Il
spray pump.