The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-12-16
100000 BUSHES ON
TEXAS ROSE FARM
PEDIGREED BUDS ON WEED
DOG" CUTTINGS WORTH
MORE THAN COTTON.

in single "eardenw Red ones, white
ones, pink oneS-any tint you may
choose. Then other patches OF them
in numbers of 100000 and more.
That is a sight you would see II
YOU visited certain parts OF east Texas
at anv time between March and NO
vefnber for in recent years rose cul-
lure has become a leading occupation
there There is a single farm near Ty-
Ter Texas, upon which more than
100000 rose bushes are growing, and
adjoining farms have fields OF them
also as large, says the Christian
Science Monitor.
Although a few horticulturists have
been growing roses on small scale
for twenty years or more in east lex
as nor until four or five years ago did
tbe average farmer consider the prof.
ect seriously. The business OF grow
mo roses has developed, however I'M
fl it now stands ahead OF cotton,
which has always been the leading
"monev" crop there. More than l.
100000 plants were produced near y
fer last season. and a greater number
was grown this year.
The whole air is filled with ira
GRANGE mequaled by any perfume
shop. when the roses are in bloom,
from early spring until the frost comes
in the autumn. More than one hum
bred varieties of commercial roses
thrive there. But, as profusely as they
bloom, roses are not grown IN east
Texas Tor their flowers. They are pro-
dnced primarily for the sale OF young
plants.
Shipped by Carload.
Carload after carload OF young bush
es are shipped every year to all parts
OF the United States and even into
Canada. Buyers flock to the towns
in the rose growing belt each season,
in much the same manner as mer-
chants 90 to the great dry goods and
clothing markets of the east in the
spring and autumn The shipping sea-
son begins in November and ends
about the middle. of February
The work done by farmers in east
Texas represents one Of the most i'm
portant steps in the life OF rose from
the time it first comes into being as
sprig OF plant until it adorns the
living room OF its purchaser, having
UldIlE dCIttNtu llS Pun 'C9N u Nt'Ai y
ing tidings of happiness and good
cheer from one person to another.
All the different varieties OF gor-
geous rose blossoms whether Amer
lean Beauties, pink Columbus or the
ever popular red Radiance, come from
the same lowly parent, insofar as the
production in east Texas is concern
ed Their common propagator is the
semi wild Gamma or better known as
the Dog" rose, which grows profuse-
" in east Texas without cultivation
or care
Cuttings Root Quickly.
The farmers take pieces of the
branches of runners from these wild
bushes, cut them into sections eight
inches in length each, and stick them
in the soil in open fields during the
month of February. Without any I'M
due care, save the ordinary cultlva-
ton which any common crop gets,
these cuttings quickly root and put
out fresh shoots.
By August, when the sap begins to
so down, the young cuttings are ready
for budding. 1t is at this point that
the growers determine the variety OF
commercial rose that the young bush
will eventually be. Up to this stage
they are still the wild, uncultured
Gamma Budding is done by taking a
+br;ftv bud from a bush OF the varle-
~ which the grower wishes to pro
duce from the cuttings Sits the bark
~ the tender sprout on the cutting
and then asserts the pedigree Dud;
IT, wound then is carefully bound |
and sealed over, and in a short time
+he new bud begins to grow Al TINS |
stage all the shoots from the cutting
evrent the one into which the pedi-
creed bud was placed are trimmed
Of leaving the single stepchid sprout
{or the Dog parent to nourlsh.
Budding begins in August and CON
d;+;ons are favorable for it until frost
comes in November to nip the tender
h1,ds The Young plants must grow
,,ear from the time the buds are set
Iefore thew are movable. Some are
sold at a year old, while others are
kept in the ground until they are t"o
wears old.
Cultivated Like Corn.
The cuttings are put out in rows
ohout four feet apart. set close III the
drill They are plowed and hoed IN
much the same manner as cotton %. or
corn. When the time comes Tor the
natured settings to be sold they are
nlowed with a large implement gain
cred up and assorted according to SIZE
and variety; wet moss IS wrapped s
around the roots and they are ready
for packing subsequent to the long
trio to flower gardens all over the
country. Nurserymen ia Ike these
plants, when they reach their destlna,
lions, set them out in the open or IN
greenhouses as climatic conditions de-
mand. and the little cuttings grow INTO
spreading bushes that produce dozens
OF pedigreed blossoms during the sea-
son.
The young plants sell at the farm
at prices ranging from eight to thirty
cents each, depending on the size age
and variety. Naturally the two-year-
old sprouts bring higher price than
the smaller ones An acre OF ground
will produce from 1900 to 10000