160 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



caused by fungi have to be fought successfully if perfect roses are 

 to be obtained. Here is a list : 



Rose mildew 

 Rose black mildew 

 Rose rust 

 Black spot 



Rose-leaf scorch 

 Sooty mould 

 Rose-tree canker 

 Parasitic canker 



But, after all, when one has kept closely in mind and put into 

 use the adage that " Prevention is better than cure," the average 

 amateur will find that in practice he will need only to be constant 

 in his warfare against grubs and caterpillars, greenfly and mildew 

 to save his finest blossoms from serious harm and his trees from 

 devastating disease. 



For grubs and caterpillars the remedy is simple. They will 

 inevitably make their appearance with the advent of new foliage, 

 and will find their way to the flower-bud as soon as it is formed, 

 unless in the meantime they are destroyed. And there is only 

 one really effective method of accomplishing this end that is 

 to search diligently for the crumpled rose-leaf. Wherever a leaf 

 is found to be curled up and sapless, there assuredly will you find 

 the marauding grub. The leaf must be picked off and the cater- 

 pillar concealed within its folds crushed between the thumb and 

 finger until all danger of resuscitation is over. It is not a pleasant 

 job, especially for the dainty fingers of lady gardeners ; but it is 

 drastic and it is effectual. 



The remedies for greenfly, or rose aphis, are summed up by 

 Mr F. V. Theobald in the Rose Society's handbook as : " Just a 

 little gentle washing with non-caustic substances and a lot of 

 finger-and-thumb work.*' This is excellent advice, and save 

 that the inexperienced beginner may like to know what are the 

 non-caustic substances recommended for use, there is little more 

 to be said. Here is the remedy suggested by Mr Theobald : 



** Apliis may easily be kept in check on roses by spraying, but 

 this must be done with care. The writer has seen roses as badly 

 damaged by the washes used as by the greenfly. The reason is, 

 the rose will not stand any strong corrosive spray. A particular 

 rose may do so at one time, but at another it will have its foliage 



