602 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



tend to create aspirations for a better life. How those members 

 of the Flower Missions who witness the joy that one little rose 

 bud brings to the breast of the fortunate recipient must wish that 

 there were "more roses." 



The growing of roses is a large industry, millions of them are 

 grown each year for outside planting, and millions of them are 

 planted in parks and private gardens throughout the United States. 



Our country is large, however, and although so many rose bushes 

 are planted it is very noticeable as we pass along the streets of 

 our towns and villages and of the suburban parts of our large cities 

 that many of the lawns, I think I might say a large majority of the 

 lawns, appear to have no roses in them. Many of the bushes that 

 are seen are of the hardy climbing class, with the Crimson Rambler, 

 a comparatively new rose more noticeable than any other variety. 

 The hardy climbing roses are very desirable for many places, but 

 they are not the most popular class of roses. We see more of them 

 because they are nearly sure to live and thrive when planted, 

 their vigorous habit of growth enables them to overcome the attacks 

 of insects and fungus, the cold winter w 7 eather does not kill their 

 branches and if planted in good soil they will live and thrive for 

 many years without pruning. 



The more popular bush or garden roses are planted in much 

 larger qualities than the hardy climbing varities, but the lives of 

 many of them are very short, — not necessarily or intentionally 

 so, but rather for want of a little timely care and attention, on ac- 

 count of which the enemies of the rose bush soon end its life. The 

 list of roses that should do well in our gardens and survive ordinary 

 winter weather is quite a long one, and while they will all thrive 

 and do well in almost any good soil and favorable situation, there 

 is no doubt that some varieties will do better in a particular kind 

 of soil than others. Just what is in the soil to make this difference 

 no one can certainly tell, but w x e can see by observing the growth 

 of the plants just what varieties make a poor growth, and which 

 ones produce unsatisfactory flowers, — these w 7 e should leave out of 

 the collection for our own particular garden. 



The rose can hardly be regarded as a fastidious plant, but it is 

 a heavy feeder, the roots absorb a great deal of nourishment, wmich 

 must be kept replenished by liberal manuring in order to get the 

 best results. This is an important matter and can be better under- 

 stood when it is known that the Hybrid Perpetual roses, such as 

 Gen. Jacqueminot, Paul Neyron and Magna Charta, should make 

 a complete new top each year. In other words when these roses are 

 pruned in the spring all the old wood that has borne flowers the 

 previous year should -be cut out, and in its place there should be an 

 ample number of strong young shoots to make a new top. If the 

 old top is allowed to remain it appropriates most of the nourish- 

 ment from the roots so that no young shoots are produced for the 

 following year; — plants pruned in this way, — and I believe it is the 

 way most of them are pruned, — soon lose their vitality and had 

 better be replaced by young, healthy plants. 



The pruning of the rose is a very important operation — all ex- 

 perienced growers agree on this point — and they also agree that is is 

 difficult, indeed almost impossible to give definite instructions to the 

 inquiring beginner or to those who are seeking to improve the 



