IRISH GARDENING 



VOLUME XI 



No. 119 



Editor— J. W. Besant. 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



JANUARY 

 1916 



The Rose Garden in January* 



The present month is generally too inclement 

 for any extensive work in the garden, but still a 

 few hours now and then can be very usefully 

 employed. Any of the Climbing varieties that 

 have not been trimmed during the autumn 

 should be seen to without delay, all shoots that 

 can be spared should be removed, and the re- 

 maining branches shortened back to the ripe 

 wood. 



The most frequent error in connection with 

 those Climbing Roses is that they are allowed to 

 grow too profusely. Year after year the plant 

 is throwing out many long stems, which, luiless 

 ruthlessly kept within bounds, tend to create a 

 tangle both unlovely and unproductive of 

 flowers. Thin and wiry growth is of no use 

 and shovdd be cut clean away. The shoots re- 

 tained should be arranged so that there is 

 sufficient space between them, but in avoiding 

 a taiigle care should be taken that the enthusiast 

 with the knife does not skeletonise the plant. 

 Any fine day will offer an opportunity for 

 shifting any dwarf plants that may have out- 

 grown their position. One is often apt to mis- 

 judge the space required in a few years for a 

 fairly vigorous Rose, and it is more advisable 

 to transfer it to more roomy quarters than to 

 sacrifice it by hard pruning. In the case of 

 Roses in a border where those of moderate 

 growth are liable to suffer from their over- 

 growing neighl)ours, naturallj^ the former will 

 yield place. 



After a heavy gale some of the larger bushes 

 may be foimd to have loosened about the roots ; 

 this is almost a certainty if rain has preceded. 

 The soil should be closed in and made firm, 

 otherwise the first hard frost may have serious 

 consequences. Roses of the Hugh Dickson, 

 Gruss an Teplitz and Caroline Testout type tliat 

 quickly make big growth should be well staked 

 and the longer shoots shortened. 



When one considers the facility of growing 

 Roses in pots even without heat it is surprising 

 that it is not more widely practised. With the 

 help of an unheated glasshouse or a frame first 

 rate blooms can be had during April and May 

 in most localities. It is not too late to pot up 

 now, and any cf the moderately vigorous Roses 

 will suit. Cuttings that have been rooted since 

 last year are admirable for this purpose. There 

 will not be the difficulty, as there often is, in 

 Roses grown on other stocks, and the depth in 

 the pot can be more easily regulated. A pot 

 7 or 8 inches wide will be found the most con- 

 venient size. A compost of old fibrous loam 

 well mixed with some well-rotted manure and 

 leaf-mould, and if obtainable some j inch bones 

 should be used. When potted they can be 

 plunged in the soil near a south wall until the 

 sap begins to run, when they may be placed in 

 the cold frame or greenhouse where they are to 

 flower. The first pruning should be close. Cut 

 back to the third eye or dormant bud — three 

 stems are quite sufficient to retain. 



Without forcing, very fine blooms can be 

 obtained in this way. Of course, if Roses are 

 to be forced in heated houses they should be 

 potted up for a year previously, as roots and 

 flowers cannot be grown artificially at the same 

 time successfully. 



In view of planting towards the end of the 

 month the site could be well dug now and some 

 old manure well mixed with the bottom spit of 

 soil. This will be well weathered before the 

 dry days arrive that will enable the work of 

 planting to be done with more convenience. 



Newly planted Roses should be regularly 

 examined and guarded against frost. The soil 

 should be kept heaped up about the roots and 

 no cavity left where water is likely to lodge for 

 any time. A mulch of farmyard manure can be 

 apphed to the older Roses, and it will be all the 



