54 SOME OF THE BEST HARDY ROSES, 



Manures. 



No plant that I am acquainted with shows so quickly the advantage of a 

 well prepared soil as the rose. In rich ground it makes a luxuriant growth 

 and yields flowers in the greatest profusion. In poor soil it makes no growth 

 and quickly becomes the victim of disease and suffers from the attacks of 

 various insects, so that it becomes necessary, if you wish success with your 

 roses, to plant them in good ground, properly emiched in advance with 

 well decomposed manure. Fresh manure incorporated with the soil just 

 before planting, is apt to injure the roots of the plants, and unless suitable 

 manure can be obtained it is better not to use any until after the plants 

 have started ; then the manure can be applied on the surface of the ground 

 as a top-dressing and be left as a fertilizer through the summer. It will 

 keep the soil cool during the hot, dry weather, and will prevent the plants 

 from suffering from drought. Then in the fall, say in November, give each 

 plant a liberal supply of the best cow manure, leaving it around the plants 

 during the winter and turning it under in April. Of all the manures which 

 I have experimented with cow manure shows the best effects spent hop>s 

 mixed with cow manure add value to the dressing. This mode of manuring 

 should be practiced every autumn. Liquid manure is very beneficial and 

 can be applied occasionally during the summer, but care must be taken that 

 it be not too strong ; make it weak and apply it frequently. 



Pruning. 



This is an operation of great importance. We find the early spring, be- 

 fore the plants have commenced to grow, the best time to prune. Some 

 varieties require to be cut back more than others ; but a rule which will 

 apply generally is to shorten the strongest stems of last season's growth to 

 about 1 8 or 24 inches, and cut out all weakly growth. We take it for 

 granted that the bushes make a growth of from five to seven feet during the 

 season. In my garden several varieties make an annual growth of eight to 

 nine feet, that is, when not summer-pruned. A great many are afraid to 

 use the knife vigorously, and their plants suffer materially on that account. 

 In order to obtain flowers in autumn the plants m?y be slightly pruned in 

 July, after the flowering season is over. The plants will then produce a 

 quantity of blooms again in September, and the shape of the bushes will 

 be improved. 



Planting. 



The spring is the best season for planting, although where the winters 

 are not severe it can be done in autumn. It is highly important to plant 

 early, as roses suffer extremely if set out after the growth has started. April 

 is the best time in this locality. Secure your plants early, and if they are 

 budded on the manetti, plant them so that not only the stock, but also a 

 portion of the bud will be covered with earth. This will enable the plant 

 to send out roots above the bud, and in a short time the bush will be on its 

 own roots. This point is worthy of serious consideration, If you do not 

 set out the plants yourself, see that your gardener observes this suggestion. 

 I prefer budded plants, except for beds, to any others, as you obtain a 

 stronger growth and larger and finer flowers than you do from plants on 

 their own roots. Some object to budded plants on account of the suckers 

 they send up. These suckers will not appear if the planting is properly 

 done, and any one who loves roses will soon learn to distinguish the stock 

 from the plant, and as soon as a sucker appears it can be cut out. 



