roses. 375 



and drink that is applied to the ground. After fertilizers are ap- 

 plied they should be cultivated in ; and when the ground is irrigated 

 it should be allowed to dry a little on the surface and then stirred 

 to make it fine and loose so as to prevent evaporation and drying 

 out. Surface cultivation should be given the ground at least once 

 a week, from the time the bushes are uncovered until October. 



5th. Protection. — In late fall, before severe freezing weather 

 sets in, choose a dry time to cover the bushes. See that the ground 

 is thoroughly wet so that the roots will not dry out during the 

 winter, for it will be a long time before they will have another chance 

 to take a drink. 



In wintering roses the main thing is to keep the bushes dry. 

 I have found the best way to do this is to first make a bed of dry 

 straw or leaves for the bushes to lie on. It should be six or more 

 inches deep. Bend the bushes over and lay them gently on the bed 

 and cover them with two feet of dry straw, making it highest in the 

 middle, much like the roof of a house. Then cover the straw with 

 boards. Short pieces can be nailed to a ridge pole and to a strip at 

 the lower end, making it quite steep so as to shed water easily ; or, 

 boards can be used horizontally, by commencing at the base of the 

 straw on each side, lapping the boards an inch and using enough 

 nails to hold them in place. A narrow board at the top can hold 

 the two sides together. Put boards at the end to keep out the wet 

 and to hold the straw in place. Leaves or hay can be used in place 

 of straw. Do not uncover in the spring until freezing weather is 

 over, but uncover before they start their growth. Where there is 

 danger from mice, place poisoned grain where they will get it. 



6th. Planting. — The best time to plant is in early spring, before 

 the bushes have started to grow. If they are on their own roots, 

 they should be set two to three inches deeper than they grew in the 

 nursery ; if they are budded roses, they should be set four to six 

 inches deeper. Mud the roots in thick mud before planting and set 

 them very firmly. 



7th. Pruning. — Keep all old or dead branches cut out ; and 

 with budded roses be sure to keep all sprouts from the roots cut 

 back deep in the ground, or they will take all growth from the top 

 and cause it to dwarf and die. In the spring, prune the tops back 

 to about four feet and cut off all the tops that look black or dry back 

 to the fresh buds. 



8th. What to Plant. — If one is careful to keep back the 

 suckers, a budded rose will make the best growth and prove the best 

 to blossom ; and some roses are such poor growers that they can 

 be grown successfully only .by budding them on Manetti stock. 



