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HORTICULTURE: 



December 11, 1909 



Soils and Fertilizer for Rose Growing 



It IS not possible to state definitely what amount of 

 phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen should be con- 

 tained in a soil that would bring the rose to its highest 

 state of perfection. Nor in the present state of our 

 knowledge of such matters can this be done for any 

 plant, though it is possible as the result of experiment 

 to oJTer certain general recommendations for the fer- 

 tilization of many plants. 



Where roses are grown for cut flowers applications of 

 fertilising materials containing relatively a large pro- 

 portion of phosphoric acid with small amounts of 

 nitrogen and potash produce the best results. In many 

 cases application of bone meal, used singly, is sufficient 

 to supply the phosphoric acid and nitrogen, the soil 

 itself containing sufiicient potash. This is especially 

 the case when certain clay or clay loam soils were used, 

 these soils being derived from rocks rich in potash 

 bearing minerals. 



The idea of analyzing the plant and the soil and 

 adding to the latter the kind and amount of fertiliz- 

 ing material shown to be necessary as the results of 

 such analysis is an old one. This method is adapted 

 only for laboratory experiments where all conditions 

 are controlled. When attempted on a large scale in 

 either greenhouse or open air cultivation, wheie the 

 soil i.~ constantly undergoing many changes, chemical, 

 physical and biological, this results in the introduction 

 of many factors over which it is impossible to exer- 

 cise the necessary control, thereby rendering such a 

 method useless for practical purposes. 



It ii true that a sample of soil can be accurately an- 

 alyzed and the exact composititon of the sample de- 

 terii''ined, but hy reason of the changes noted above the 

 analysis should be held to represent the soil only in 

 a general way. Such an analysis is valuable chiefly 

 for showing a general deficiency of some particular 

 .substance, lime for instance, rather than as a guide 

 to the proper fertilization. Moreover, there is no 

 method by which the availability for plant use of tlte 

 substances found can be determined. 



The value of grass roots — in fact all vegetable matter 

 in a soil is due to the formation, by its decomposition 

 in the soil, of humus, and to the further fact that dur- 

 ing the process of decomposition there are produced 

 acids that enter into combination with the minerals 

 prc=cnt in the soil, rendering some of them more soluble 

 in their new form, hence more available for the use 

 of th" plants. Besides which, all green plants contain 

 all the mineral elements necessary for plant growth, 

 and by the decay of .such vegetable matter these min- 

 erals are left in the soil for the succeeding crop. When 

 too great a i]uantity of green plant matter is added to 

 the soil there is danger of producing excessive quan- 

 tities of acids, more than necessary to act on the soil 

 minerals, thus leaving the soil itself in a "sour" or 

 acid condition. The addition of lime hastens the de- 



composition of such vegetable matter and neutralizes 

 .such acid conditions. Lime also has a physical effect 

 in soils — rendering clayey, stiff soils more open and 

 porous and causing sandy soils to become more com- 

 pact. 



It is not likely that the amount of lime found in 

 water that is nt for domestic use. even if "hard," will 

 be sulTieient to produce any appreciable efl'oct on roses. 

 Some classes of plants, azaleas, rhododendrons, etc., are 

 intolerant of any small amounts of lime, however. 



High grade acid phosphate is the most quickly avail- 

 able source of phosphoric acid and contains neither 

 nitrogen or potash. Animal bone is less quickly avail- 

 able and contains both nitrogen and phosphate of lime. 

 For roses, when potash is needed, sulphate of potash 

 is to be preferred to the muriate or to Kainit. L'se 

 by mixing thoroughly throughout the soil before plant- 

 ing, and by dissolving in water and applying as a 

 liquid after plants are established and it is desirable 

 to force them. 



Still, after all chemical fertilizers have been applied 

 (to what would seem an ideal soil for growing roses) 

 in the proper proportion and form it has never been 

 known that a house planted in such soil wiU run a 

 full sea,=on without the addition of a sheep manure top 

 dressing, cow manure mulch, cow manure liquid ap- 

 plications, or some other form of feeding, and be a 

 success. 



I would suggest that at the next regular, meeting of 

 the .LXmcrican Kose Society to be held in New York in 

 the coming Jlarcb, our president appoint a permanent 

 committee of fife members to study this question of 

 soils and fertilizers for Eose growing purposes to co- 

 operate with our several agricultural departments and if 

 possible secure aid from national or state sources in tliis 

 work. 



We should not claim that our position is as important 

 as that of the farmer, but we are entitled to some- 

 thing, as we have large investments, employ large forces 

 of labor and pay big taxes. 



This is a question that should come before the 

 S. -A. F. and 0. H., but the rose growers should 

 bring this matter up and maintain a position or they 

 will not receive the individual attention wliich they 

 should have. 



It is a known fact that soil containing an ample 

 supply of phosphoric acid in a proper form and con- 

 taining absolutely no nitrogen is practically worthless, 

 or if a soil contains plenty of all other plant food 

 elements in their proper proportions and is lacking 

 in one it is of no benefit. Each grower should also 

 bear in mind that if his soil is perfection and his cut- 

 ting, ventilating, watering, etc., are not properly at- 

 tended to his labors go for naught. 



Chatham, N. J. 



