Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-18
ROSES

At the meeting of the Takoma Horti-
cultural Club, held April 20, Peter Bis
set Of the Department of Agriculture
gave very interesting and helpful talk
on roses. using lantern slide views to
emphasize his points and to illustrate
varieties The control of pests was de-
scribed as the greatest obstacle to sue
cess For aphids. such as are now busy
sucking the life sap of buds and tender
growth. Mr.. Bisset recommended l to
Ia teaspoonfuls of Black Leaf 40 to
gallon of water. For the control OF
aphids, black spot and mildew. either
singly or combined, a dust made up OF
A., ounces of air slaked lime, ounces
of busting sulphur and y ounce OF
Black Leaf 40 is suggested The liquid
Black Leaf may be slowly stirred into
the lime end sulphur mixture and will
be absorbed without making paste. An
ordinary -four sitter was suggested as a
means OF mixing. For chewing insects,
arsenate of lead was advised.
Coming to the matter of plants and
planting. Mr. Bisset recommended the
use OF -year-old budded roses. The
plant should be set so that the bud
union is about two inches below the sur
face of the soil. Sprouts from the root
should be removed as they are wild. in
ferior types in the case of budded
plants These sprouts may be dis
tineliiShed by the presence of seven
leaflets per leaf instead of the usual five
Characteristic of improved varieties. AT
the time OF planting, shoots one-fourth
inch in diameter should be cut back to
four inches and those one-half inch in
diameter to six inches.
Mr.. Bisset strongly advised purchase
from rose growers of good standing.
He spoke of one lot of inferior stock
from which SIS per cent of the plants
had to be removed on account Of dis
ease. Climbing rose shoots should be
allowed to stand two seasons and then
cut back to the ground. This insures a
constant supply of strong, new wood.
In cutting blossoms of bush roses. cut
long stems so as to obtain sturdy new
shoots.
Rose beds should not be over 6 feet
broad so that the soil may be worked
and flowers cut without standing on
the beds. The old plan of digging out
beds to 2 feet in depth was declared
absurd and even harmful in this local
itr. depth Of to inches being ade-
Quate
Rose Xanthina and Rosa hugonis
we're mentioned as two yellow roses for
utilizatio as shrubs and which required
but little pruning. So-called tree roses
may be developed from ordinary bush
varieties by selecting one strong shoot
and keeping off lower growth. This
shoot must be renewed every two years.
Mr.. Bisset had much to say about
rose varieties. Zepherin Drouhin was
declared to be wonderful pink
climber. absolutely without thorns. Sill
yer Moon or Gardenia may be used to
grow on large evergreen trees. making
q wonderful picture. Excelsa is the best
of the red ramblers, being quite resist
ant to mildew. Sweetheart and Amer
ican Pillar we're also favorahly men,
toned. Single arches made of pipe and
placed over the garden walk are recon-
mended as support for climbers.
Among bush roses, Mr.. Bisset listed
Ophelia and its sports, radiance, red
radiance, Mrs Charles Bell and Frau
Karl Druschki as very successful in this
locality. Red radiance originated as
bud sport from pink radiance in the
Guide greenhouses. Mr.. Bisset presented
pictures of many of the fine new in
Productions, some of which are easily
grown and others require special care
Mrs. Wakefield Christie Miller was de-
scribed as fine bedding rose and Dame
Edith Helen as one of the most mar
Vicious roses ever introduced.