Evening star., 1948-05-30
High Content
Of Humus Aids
Rose Growth
By w. H. Younqmon

There are many successful growers
In the Washington area who have
learned how to nurture roses during
our long growing season.
A heavy clay is not a drawback,
but deficiency of humus in the soil
is. An ideal soil for the rose bed
is one made up OF rotted cow
manure, peat moss and clay. Over
one-half Of the cubic contents of
the bed should be humus in one
form or another, preferable a mix
ture of well-rotted COW manure,
compost and peat moss.
Cornell University experimental
plots containing IS per cent humus
were far superior to others.
Roses usually live whether planted
in the spring or in the fall. But.
generally speaking, the best results
are obtained from planting dormant
bushes in the fall.
Protect From Black Spot.
Another step in successful rose
culture Is to protect the bushes from
disease. principally Black Spot.
There are several spray materials
and dusts on the market which
give excellent control If applied reg
ularly. These materials are pre-
ventatives. They will not wipe out
an infection, once 1t Is in the leaf
tissues. The gardeners Job, there
fore, is to keep the disease spores
from becoming established. BY
weekly applications Of spray or dust
this may be accomplished.
Few gardeners are able to keep
their gardens absolutely free from
when some Of the more susceptible
varieties are included in the planting.
Feed roses and water them.
Roses are strong growers and need
plenty Of plant food to support that
growth. Some will prescribe elabo-
rate feeding formulas, but most OF
our successful gardeners use the
ordinary garden mixtures. They
may supplement them with bone
meal, or with potash. The bone
meal supplies phosphate and lime.
The potash is added principally to
aid the wood to ripen in the fall.
Wood ashes, scattered over the bed
and cultivated into the soil will
accomplish the same results.
The first application OF fertilizer
Is normally made in March or early
April following the spring pruning.
Further feelings at monthly in
tervals may be made up until the
first of August. Feeding after the
first of August usually produces new
growth that may not mature suft1-
GENTLY before winter freezes. 1t Is
likely to be killed. This rule works
against the gardeners who wish to
have extra fine blooms for the fall
rose ShoWSD
How to Cheat the Beetles.
The foregoing while not as COM
plicated as some would have rose
growing, Is basic to top-notch re-
suits A rosebush planted at the
right season in a soil high in humus
needs only to be protected from
disease and to be supplied with
ample plant food to produce long
stemmed blossoms. Such bush
normally Is less subject to disease
than one that lacks the cool root
run and moisture supplies obtain
able in a properly prepared soil. l.
is, therefore, much easier to protect
from diseases. Unfortunately, this
extra vigor does not help to pro-
tect the blossoms from attack by the
Japanese beetles.
However, there are several steps
which we may take to meet this
menace. The roses may be cut just
as they begin to show color and
allowed to open indoors. If this can
be done in a cool. light basement
we will be pleasantly surprised at
the quality blooms. The florists
cut their flowers in a tight bud