156 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



of the foliage will not be a serious objection. When it is 

 desired to keep the foliage clean, ammoniacal-copper- 

 carbonate may be used in place of Bordeaux and arsenate 

 of lead powder instead of paste. 



It is of great advantage to have available an abundance of 

 water under strong pressure. Water applied in a fine spray 

 will not injure the roses and will keep in check most of the 

 insects to be feared. 



Summer Mulching and Pruning 



To bloom through a long season and with vigor roses 

 require plenty of mulching. Summer mulching is of great 

 advantage. Fine, rather light, well-rotted manure is ideal 

 for this purpose. If it is too fresh it may injure the plants; 

 if too coarse it is not effective as a mulch. The bed should 

 be thoroughly hoed over before the mulch is applied, so 

 sprouting weeds will be destroyed. To obtain the best 

 blooms some additional feeding of the plants will be re- 

 quired; the mulch of manure, if of the right kind, will serve 

 this additional purpose, as every rain or thorough watering 

 will carry plant food down to the roots. 



When mulch is not used liquid manures or bone dust or 

 bone flour and a little nitrate of soda should be given. If 

 the ground has been thoroughly enriched an application of 

 nitrate of soda alone will generally show marked results. 

 Another convenient form in which this additional plant 

 food may be applied is by giving a dressing of sheep manure 

 or shredded cattle manure, raking or hoeing it lightly into 

 the surface, and then giving a thorough watering. This is 

 much more convenient than making and applying liquid 

 manure and it gives much the same effect. 



When many flowers are cut the plant is practically given 

 a summer pruning in their removal. In cutting flowers, as 

 in pruning, be sure always to cut about a quarter of an 

 inch above an outside bud or branch, so the bush will tend 

 to grow outward, leaving an open center to admit plenty 

 of air and sunshine. 



