176 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



produced a more beautiful rose. It is worth many years of care of a 

 Marechal Niel bush in Oregon to obtain such results. 



Many eastern people are unfamiliar with the Marechal Niel; for 

 in the east, and often on this coast, the roses the florists sell as Marechal 

 Niels are the Perle des Jardins, which are prolific under glass but 

 greatly inferior to the queen of roses in every quality. 



Niphetos is accounted one of the most delicate of tea roses, yet I 

 have three good bushes more than ten years old, which grow in the 

 garden protected only by being in an angle of the house. These bushes 

 produce Niphetos roses which would make a professional florist jealous. 



SUBSOIL DRAINAGE. 



The heavy clay soil of Oregon should have perfect subsoil drainage, 

 for, apart from rainy conditions in winter, our freezing weather is 

 usually preceded by very heavy rains, due to the contest for mastery 

 between the warm and cold waves. The ground then being so wet, the 

 ice goes deep, and affects the roots of the more tender rose-bushes. In 

 addition, subsoil drainage, with cultivation, gives the ground more 

 available water in the dry season, through capillarity, .and enables the air 

 to get to the roots of the bushes. 



PRUNING ROSE-BUSHES. 



About the middle of February, sometimes as late as the first week in 

 March, I prune my bushes. In this I am severe, but kindly severe. I 

 bend over, I dig away the soil to prune deep, where necessary. It tires 

 my back, but the results justify me. It hurts mo more than it does 

 the roses, but I do it solely for their good. 



With all roses, except the climbers, the wood more than a year old 

 should usually be cut off, and only the newer shoots be left. The best 

 roses come on the new wood, which carries more sap than the older 

 wood. The center of the bush must be cut out to let in the sun. 



The usual rule in pruning is to prune severely the weak-growing 

 varieties, for the closer you prune, the more vigorous is the new growth. 

 The climbers should be pruned only to make them shapely. Even 

 then the pruning shears should be used sparingly. 



PLANTING ROSE-BUSHES. 



This is the season when it is best to plant new bushes, using dor- 

 mant plants, which are the best. They make roots slowly, and become 

 established before the growing season begins. In planting, I make a 



ole at least two feet deep and as much or more in diameter, often 

 putting m the bottom broken stone or brick to secure drainage. I use 

 liberally leaf mold mixed with clay, especially near the roots of the 



ish. Leaf mold is nature's prepared food "for all plants. Every 



