Evening star., 1947-03-30
Institute Finds
ROseCulture
Easy for All
By james BirchfieId

Modern trends in rose growing
no longer present the formidable
problems that few years ago con-
fronted the gardener who wanted
the enjoyment of a small rose gar
den. Rather, rosarians have found
that roses will thrive in soil that
will support vegetables or even a
lawn, and trends are away from
the elaborate bed preparations once
thought a necessary part Of rose
culture.
These were among the new trends
In rose culture discussed last week
by DR.. r. C. Allen, secretary Of the
American Rose Society, at the an
nual Potomac Rose Institute spon-
sored jointly by the Potomac Rose
Society and George Washington
University. The institute, held at
Lisner Auditorium, was the first
Since the war.
DR.. Allen told nearly 800 Wash
ington rose fanciers that few years
ago gardeners were discouraged
by the tremendous amount of work
thought necessary in the prepara-
ton of a rose garden. In the last
few years, however, he said, it has
been found that roses will grow well
If reasonably productive soil Is
provided.
Spade Beds Deeply.
Instead of digging beds to aI
depth of from 8 to feet, once
thought necessary part of pre-
pairing a rose garden, Dr. Allen said
most experts now agree that deep |
spading is all that is required. The
earth should be turned over the
depth Of the spade, he said, and a
hole large enough to allow the
roots to be spread out should be dug
to accommodate the plant. 1t is
sometimes well to make mound in |
the center of the hole for the main
part OF the plant to rest on and
allow the roots to spread out natur-
ally.
Because rose plants come in
bundles, with their roots bound in
the shape of cylinder, many
inexperienced gardeners think the
roots grow naturally in that shape"
DR.. Allen said. 'It should be re-
membered that in setting new
plants, the roots must be given
ample room to develop"
No roses should be grown where
the drainage is so poor that water
collects and stands during wet sea-
sons. l. such location is the only
one available, then a tile drainage
system should be installed, DR.. Allen
said.
Il have never been impressed"
DR.. Allen said, with that old theory
that roses fail because of poor
drainage. I have seen only a few
such cases.
Organic Matter Necessary.
DR.. Allen explained that the old
method of preparing the rose beds
by spreading layer of manure or
other organic matter, and then a i
layer of soil, has been proved faulty.
The organic matter should be mixed
we'll with the soil when the bed is
prepared, and should be added |
regularly to the top of the ground
to keep the soil productive.
When large quantities of manure
are spread at the bottom of the bed,
he explained, gasses that are formed
by the decaying organic matter
sometimes injure the delicate roots
Of the plants. This will be avoided
by mixing the organic material with
the soil. The manure should be
mixed in perhaps six weeks before
the roses are planted.
Rosarians lately also have cor
rected. faulty practices of fertiliza-
tion, DR.. Allen said. Where once it |
was thought that roses were heavy
feeders, growers now believe that too
much fertilization Is injurious to the
plants.
Experiments show that 1t is a.
simple matter to have too much
nitrogen, and when this occurs the
roots Of the plants will be injured.
With heavy fertilization, it is easy
to bring the nitrogen rate too high.
"It appears to me-" DR.. Allen