358 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[December, 



TREE ROSES. 



BY E. FRYER, DELAWARE, OHIO, 



Some years ajjo I tried experiments with tree 

 roses, working them by budding four feet high on 

 the common Prairie roses as stocks. The first 

 winter they were carefully tied with rye straw. 

 It proved an exceptionally hard winter; atone 

 time reaching as low as 31° below zero. As a 

 consequence, every upright stock was frozen 

 down to the snow line. A few that were bent 

 down and covered with earth only survived. 

 This was rather discouraging, there being about 

 twelve hundred strong stocks in the block. 



The following season about one-half the num- 

 ber was budded, selecting, as in the first season, 

 a strong shoot from each stock, cutting away all 

 others, working over some of them twice, and 

 some even a third time to make sure that every 

 stock had a living bud by the end of the season. 

 In December all were laid down lengthwise of 

 the rows, covered with earth, and so remained 

 till spring, when they were drawn out, stems 

 quite green and buds all alive. Owing to the 

 great strength of the stocks, I had hopes of hav- 

 ing a fine growth from the buds when once they 

 had reached the spring in safety. Every sprout 

 that appeared on stem and base of stocks was 

 carefully rubbed off during the summer. Most 

 of the buds pushed vigorously early in the season, 

 and some made tolerably fair heads by the end; 

 but, the great majority failed to come up to my 

 expectations in size. About one third of the 

 stocks blackened in spots and pieces, something 

 in the manner of pear blight, cutting off all com- 

 munication between root and bud ; whole stems 

 dying even after the buds had made several 

 inches of growth. The stocks were grown on 

 strong rose ground, no manure was used. The 

 varieties used as stocks were Prairie Queen, 

 Anna Maria and Milledgeville. On the whole, 

 the experiment seemed too much of a failure 

 and was discontinued. I presume other parties 

 may have done the same thing witli more or less 

 modification, but men don't generally like to 

 record their failures, forgetful of the fact that in 

 horticultural operations, we learn something 

 from a failure. 



Now the why and wherefore of this failure will 

 be attributed by intelligent, practical men gene- 

 rally, to the action of the sun on the bare stems 

 of the stocks. To offset this theory, I can state 

 the fact of a success by a German gardener at 

 Columbus, in this State, whom I visited a few 

 months since. He grows tree roses on a small 



scale, hut having done so for quite a number of 

 years — some of his standards being now fifteen 

 years old — establishes the fact that it can be 

 done and successfully too. When I first saw the 

 plantation above referred to six years ago, thoro 

 were some three to four dozen standards, three 

 to four feet high, in his front yard, with very large 

 heads ; besides these he had a small nursery of 

 a few hundred in the rear of his city lot, in dif- 

 ferent stages. I saw the large plants in thpii- full 

 blooming season, and they were a grand sight to 

 behold. Such immense heads of Hermosa, 

 showy Bosanquettes and glowing Agrippinas, 

 and of the hardy hybrids Lord Raglan, Baronne 

 Prevost, Geant de Battailles, &c., bloomed in un- 

 usual size of flower and splendor of coloring. 

 Such, indeed, as would compare favorably with 

 many specimens of the same in the grand old 

 roseries of the old world. The stock used for 

 these roses is the much abused Manetti. 



From these facts it seems clear that our prairie 

 roses are unsuited as stocks for tree ro-*es. The 

 objection to the manetti is that it sprouts so 

 much from the root, but the prairie stocks with 

 my little experience, sprouted a great deal too, 

 from tlie collar of the plant. The price, how- 

 ever, of tree roses is care. Care in selection of 

 stocks, budding and the general details of cul- 

 ture. I doubt whether we can grow them as 

 isolated specimens; in groups they will be more 

 secure, if sufficient room be allowed for laying 

 them down in winter. 



It is probable that south of the Ohio, standard 

 or tree roses can be cultivated without the trouble 

 of laying them down in winter. The cost, how- 

 ever, of laying them down anywhere will not ex- 

 ceed ten dollars a thousand; so that judging 

 from the price that commercial men have to pay 

 for imported stock, it will pay to grow them ia 

 our own country, if once we can decide on the 

 best stock to work on and get rid of the fear of 

 climatic difficulties. 



Would be pleased to hear from any one, 

 through the Monthly, who has tried experi- 

 ments, or has anything to suggest on the subject. 



OSACE ORANCE HEDGES. 



BY R. C. MCMURTRIE, PHILADELPHIA. 



Raising Plants. — The seed can generally be 

 purchased of any seedsman. I bought mine at 

 Landreth's. I soaked the seeds in water for 

 forty-eight hours before planting. When treated 

 thus they sprouted almost as freely as could be 



