Evening star., 1937-03-06
ROSE SUGGESTIONS
GIVEN GARDENERS.
Most important Considera'
ton Is Identification OF
Home and Grounds.

While considerable interest Is CEN
tered in the origin and development
Of the rose, the question of real
Importance to the home gardener Is
what the rose offers in the way OF
providing cut flowers for the house
and increasing the attractiveness of
the home grounds.
The Potomac Rose Society says:
"Many important factors enter into
successful rose growing but space will
permit only limited enumeration of
them at this time Others will be dis
cussed in future bulletins. The pur-
pose of this bulletin is to offer
friendly suggestions to the home
owner concerning the best method of
selecting and planting roses that will
produce the desired effects.
1.-The first and most important step
is to select varieties best adapted to
this locality and for the purpose
intended The second is to secure
No. l, grade A, freshly dug, true-to-
name plants, in a dormant stage, from
q reputable nurseryman. The third Is
to plant carefully in accordance with
recognized practical principles.
Surroundings Are Important.
1.-THE selection of the best variety
for the effect desired depends upon
the surroundings. For example, if it
Is desired to cover unSightly objects
such as sheds, garages or view of
a neighboring back yard, a rampant,
I,o oli Uo IN
gested But if a pillar effect for a
front porch is desired. recurrent
boomers, such as Prosperity, would be
better.
IF group or specimen paintings for
continuous color among the shrub
berry are desired, tall-growing poly
anthas like the PoulSens should be
used For edging bedding or planting
in the perennial border. lower-grow-
ing polyanthas such as Johanna Tan
tau would be better. Many of the
hybrid perpetuals and shrub roses
make excellent specimens for the
lawn.
"A No. l, grade A, field-grown hy-
brid tea rose bush, has three to four
strong canes and a well-branched
fibrous-root system. Other classes are
graded accordingly.
1T is significant that only about
80 per cent of all fleld-grown roses
turn out to be grade / quality The
other AZ per cent are claSsed as
"culls" and usually find their way
to the retail bargain counter.
Patents No Guarantee.
"In selecting varieties for any pur-
pose no preference should be given
patented roses, because the patent is
no guarantee of superiority.
1T is essential that rose bushes be
In a dormant state when planted
therefore planting should be done just
as soon as the ground can be worked.
If the bushes cannot be planted when
received the bundle should be opened,
slightly separated, laid fiat on top of
we'll ll-drained soil and covered with
to 10 inches of sandy soil to protect
them from the wind and sun.
Roses will grow in almost any good
soil if it has proper drainage, but a
clay loan with clay subsoil is prefer
able.
In the preparation of new rose
bed it is well to keep in mind a few
elementary rules of landscaping as
well as treatment of the soil. Roses
show to better advantage when
planted in groups. or beds. with a
background of shrurbery or perennials.
Rose beds should not be so wide
that the plants cannot be attended
without stepping into the bed. The
ground should be removed to a depth
Of about 18 inches, throwing he first
six inches to one side and the Sec
ond to the other. The last six inches
should be removed completely.
Drainage Should be Provided.
"If the bottom of the bed indicates
poor drainage it should be broken up
with a pick and covered four inches
deep in cinders. four-inch un-
glazed drain pipe laid in the center
Of the cinders and for the full length
of the bed, with iron elbows coming
to the top of the bed, will prove to
be a good investment.
IL Will not only assure gOOC Qrdln-
age but can be used to irrigate the
bed in dry, hot weather. A hose
placed in the drain pipe will saturate
the bed bottom within few minutes.
The cinders and drain pipe should be
covered with six-inch layer of top
soil and manure mixture, we'll tram
pied and the bed should then be
filled with top soil
THE roots of the bushes should
be pruned. The tops should be pruned
10 about eight inches of the stronger