Evening star., 1928-06-18
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 3. TRACEWELL.

were not for this wholesome imitation
going on all around us every day, the
world would have lost many of its
best works.
Exactly because roses are hard to
raise they are delightful garden oc-
cupants. 1t would not be we'll Tor the
gardener II every old Tom, Dick and
Harry were able to raise magnificent
blooms on long straight stems.
Something would be missing from
rose culture If there were no diseases
to fight, no insects to combat, no un-
known factors to contend with. Even
the most famous rosarian in the world
will admit that many problem is still
battle in the dark.
The mysterious wilt of blossoms jus:
as they are about to open still in
trigues the experts. Favorable advance
has been made in fighting the fungus
diseases, such as the dreaded black
spot and the lesser but still fearsome
leaf spot.
Insecticides and fungicides, both In
liquid and powder form, come to the
aid of the ambitious rose grower In the
home garden. The problems here are
somewhat different from those en-
countered in the professional nursery.
The amateur has SO few bushes, COM
paratively speaking, that he must make
the most of every one he has. 1t Is
therefore more incumbent upon him, II
he wishes to enjoy rose culture, to get
a maximum return from every bush.
He soon learns that this result can
only be achieved by him who is willing
to study the problems as they arise,
and then put his knowledge into the
form of work. 1t is astonishing how
many amateurs never seem to learn
anything from their experiments. They
go on from year to year, making the
same old mistakes, doing the same
wrong things, for variety of different
reasons. 1t may be that they simply
are not of the observing type. They
may be fine men, brainy enough In
other lines, but when 1t comes to rose
culture they stop using their heads.
They may be able to see that the pro-
feSsional gets his superior results by
intensive fertilization. in part, but when
it comes to the bushes they set out
themselves in the yard they forget the
plain truth so easily.
Hence little or no attention is paid
by them to the prime necessity for CIV
ing the rose its dinner with the result
that their bushes do not bloom pro-
fusely. and the flowers that do come
to the surface are small and of wrong
color.
Much the same trouble exists in
spraying This necessary action is a
nuisance, no doubt of it at all. Roses
would be more fun II no grower ever
had to lift a sprayer. Spraying is hard
work, even in a little garden. But 1t
must be done If first the aphids. and
later the leaf-eating insects. and above
all the black spot and the unsightly
mildew, are to be kept in check.
**
These are but few of the prob
lens facing the home grower of roses.
From year to year. il he goes at the
work In the way he tackles his daily
job. he will find new problems arising.
These will demand new solutions,
more work. more expense. From it all.
however, he will get better and bigger
roses and experience the thrill which
comes with success. After all. what is
there in life for the average person
more to be desired than the feeling of
success? Whether ii is an automobile
race or a flower contest. to come out
first is the wish, admitted or not. of
mankind.
The satisfactions of success in the
rose garden are no less than the happi-
ness to be gained in any legitimate
sphere of activity. since the essentials
Of success are basically the same every
where. The products Of rosebushes are
inspiring and beautiful and to tina. ex-
tent are worthy of every effort and
aspiration.