FIRST WEEK IN JUNE 



Some of our rosarians (notably Mr. W. Paul), recognising 

 this fact, now make a speciality of supplying roses on their 

 own roots ; and there is no doubt that Nature's plan is the 

 best, and that the constitution of a rose which has not been 

 deprived of the roots with which it was naturally supplied 

 will be far more vigorous and long-lived than any plant 

 which has to wage a constant warfare with the stronger 

 rose below it, which is equally desirous to propagate its 

 kind and has more power to do so. 



Blights of many kinds attack roses, and those which are 

 ill-nourished always suffer most severely from this cause. 

 Green fly is easily destroyed under glass by vapourising, but 

 is difficult to combat in the open air, especially during a dry 

 season, when the roots, being short of water, cannot main- 

 tain the full strength of the plant. Copious syringing with 

 warm water, to which carbolic soft soap has been added, is 

 useful, for the soapy froth is destructive to the insects ; but 

 it needs to be repeated several evenings in succession, as 

 the eggs hatch out. The leaves of the elder-tree steeped 

 like tea in boiling water, and allowed to stand until cold 

 (when more hot water can be added), form a good wash for 

 aphides, too ; and even plain warm water, vigorously used 

 through a powerful syringe, will do much to rout the enemy 

 if persisted in. But caterpillars, which attack the buds 

 (rolling themselves up in the tender foliage, too), and other 

 pests, must be sought out and destroyed by hand-picking 

 in their early stages ; and the deadly orange rust, as well as 

 mildew and red spider, are best checked by a warm solution 

 of potassium sulphide in the proportion of J ounce to the 

 gallon of water, with i ounce of carbolic soft soap. 



Paraffin, which is sometimes recommended as an insecti- 

 cide, is a very dangerous addition to a wash for roses, 

 for every tender bud and leaf touched by it will shrivel 

 and turn black. It should never be used in a greater pro- 

 portion than that of i ounce to a gallon of soap and water ; 

 and it must always be first mixed with a little hot milk 

 (beating up the two together until thoroughly amalgamated) 

 before adding it to the soap and water, as nothing else will 



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