Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-20

flower garden is the rose. No garden
and no lawn is complete without its
rosebush. The rose has been cultivat.
ed longer than any ornamental plant,
1t has featured the literature of all
ages and all nations, it has been the
emblem alike of romance and of war,
Its beauty of form and of color and its
alluring fragrance have commanded
universal tribute, 1t is grown in the
dooryards of the cottages of the poor
as well as In the conservatories of the
rich. and 1t is the flower suitable for
every occasion from funeral to a
frolic.
Wild roses are to be found in great
abundance and variety in practically
all the temperate regions of the
earth. Man has taken advantage of
this and has appropriated the most
pleasing wild forms for his use. as
is pointed out by bulletin that
Uncle Sam gets out to assist his
rose gardeners. In addition. man
has so modified and improved the
wild species of roses by breeding
and selection that now there is a
rose for every need-for lawn and
border, for the arbor and treIlis, for
cutting and for other ornamental pur-
poses.
Native species and those least
modified by mans crossing and selec-
ton are recommended by the ex-
perts of the Department of Agri-
culture as most suitable for lawn
and border planting. Climbing roses
used for arbors and trellises may be
handled either to give an abundance
OF bloom or to produce shade, but
they can not do both satisfactorily
and they are not as we'll adapted to
the production of shade as many
other plants. With few exceptions
these roses have but one period of
bloom, which lasts a. week, or, at
most, two weeks.
Cut-fower roses need clean culture,
severe pruning and special care:
therefore. they should be planted by
themselves in secluded beds and should
not be used to beautify the grounds in
the place of the roses appropriate for
lawns and borders. When it comes
to developing a hedge. roses are said
to be not very satisfactory. The
Wichuraina or Memorial rose, with it's
small, dark, glossy, almost evergreen,
foliage and its single white blossoms,
Is recommended as a ground cover.
Tree roses are classed as not satisfac-
tory, except in the Pacific Northwest.
Grow i'm Almost Any Soil.
Roses, In their varied species, are
adapted to almost any kind of soil con-
ditions, with thorough drainage and a
plentiful supply of organic matter,
and a reasonably constant supply of
water during the growing season. In
fact, any soil suitable to growing
good garden or field crops will be
found satisfactory for roses, although
the deeper the soil and the better the
preparation at the beginning the bet
ter the results will be. The depart
ment says that the essentials for sue
cessful growth are a well drained,
retentive soil thoroughly enriched,
preferably with rotted manure. Cut
flower roses especially need heavy an
nual manurtng.
Spring transplanting may be done
as soon as the soil is in condition to
be worked, but special care must be
exercised to prevent the roots from
driving when out of the ground for
| transplanting. Own-rooted plants are
said to be best for the average grower.
Dormant roses should have from one
| half TO two-thirds OF the wood removed
at the time of transplanting. Border
roses should have little pruning, the
removal of the dead wood and the cut
ting Of the whole bush to the ground
every Ave to eight years being best
| for most varieties. Climbing roses
should be pruned just after blooming
| by having the wood or the previous
years growth removed.
In further summary of It's hints on
successful rose growing, the Agricul'
ture Department says that cut-nower
roses need protection near the North
ern limits of the successful cultivation
Of the variety, and they should be cut
| each Spring to within six inches or
one foot of the ground for hnest
| blooms. or one-third to one-half the
| wood should be left for the greatest
quantity of bloom. Watchfulness Is
| the price of success with roses, espe,
cially with the climbing and cut-hower
| varieties, and advice as to varieties
| for a. particular region Is best obtained
| from the nearest grower or nursery
man.
One thing the amateur rose gar
| dener, who is Just making a start with
| his hobby, can depend on is that he
can get all the information and ad
| vice he can assimilate from expert
enced enthusiasts. Rosegrowers are
kindly folks, 1t seems, who welcome
| opportunities to disseminate the
knowledge they have garnered, and
| who are always carrying on expert
| ments that are extremely interesting
to persons who are interested in such
| things.
| Must Bloom This Year.
| Most people who decide to have
[ flower gardens, and particularly those
who are essaying the adventure foi
the first time. voice one insistent de
mand. They must have something