154 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



distributed. I noticed as tlie season advanced tliat 

 the tree did not cast a part of its young fruit, as 

 was the case with other trees, but that where there 

 was a bunch of tiowers tliere appeared a bunch of 

 fruit, and it remained on in clusters until ripe; 

 while other trees of the same variety produced 

 only a single apple in a place. The tree probably 

 never bore fairer fruit; and I could not have be- 

 lieved from its appearance, to look at it, that it had 

 anything near the amount of fruit which it proved 

 to contain, as it produced more from the branches 

 which were concealed from view than the other 

 trees of the orchard. 



I also experimented upon decaying cherry and 

 other trees, with similar results. I have likewise 

 applied manure in some of these cases — not around 

 the trunk, but over about the same area as would 

 be covered by the top, which is certainly an advan- 

 tage to the grain and grass growing under the trees, 

 and I have no doubt is an active agent in invigo- 

 rating the tree, by giving nourishment to the fibres, 

 which bear about the same relation to the main 

 roots as regard number and extent, as the twigs do 

 to the principal branches. 



So I conclude, from my experiments, that the 

 best mode of renovating trees that begin to show 

 signs of dissolution, is to cut many small branches 

 instead of a few large ones, and some of them re- 

 mote from the trunk, though it costs more labor; 

 and also, in fertilizing, to feed many small and re- 

 mote fibres, rather than a few large roots wliich 

 have no means of appropriating it near the trunk 

 of the tree. 



The time for trimming, which might furnish the 

 subject for another article, I will merely suggest, 

 should be — after enjoying the repose of winter, the 

 tree has collected its renewed energies, and in the 

 form of sap has commenced its annual effort to 

 repair injuries, and to create the foliage and fruit- 

 age of another season. 



The manner of trimming is to use a sharp instru- 

 ment, leaving just that amount of stub which will 

 heal over the most rai)idly, as the long stub will 

 decay to the body or main laranch from which it is 

 severed ; and as the healing process has been ob- 

 structed, furnishes an avenue to the heart, by 

 which dissolution instead of renovation is the more 

 speedily accomplished, as many victims of the "long 

 practice will testify. e. owen. 



Wyoming, March, 1S60. 



HYBKID PERPETUAL ROSES. 



The following is an extract from a letter to the 

 Chairman of the Flower Committee of the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society, published in their 

 last volume of Transactions, and which contains 

 some good sentiments and ideas, well expressed : 



"As you request from me some suggestions upon 

 the culture of the rose, I shall first, and gladly, 

 embrace the opportunity to again remind you that 

 our Society offers no premiums for Fall Blooming 

 Roses. It is certainly true, as you have said, that 

 the display would be too meagre to warrant large 

 premiums. Are we then to settle down to the 

 melancholy conviction that the name " Hardy Per- 

 petual Rose " is only a figment ? Are we really to 

 expect only a few stray and imperfect blooms, 

 merely serving as reminders of glory departed? 



It is a gross slander upon the first of blood of this 

 royal family. Hardy, hybrid-perpetual roses are 

 the great step in advance in rose culture of the 

 present age, and the step is a complete reality. Our 

 meagre fall show is a disgrace, not to the class, but 

 to ourselves. And if genuine love has not provoked 

 to good deeds, let a competition be created by pre- 

 miums, and the public will learn that September 

 is striving for the mastery in flowers, as well as 

 fruit. I will add a few rambling suggestions for 

 the attainment of so desirable a result. 



"Against public sentiment, and the opinion of 

 some experienced cultivators, I affirm that the 

 Manetti stock is the foundation on which to build. 

 There are a few varieties which are exceptions; 

 but for the great majority of varieties the Manetti 

 stock will secure the premium against all other 

 competition. Does any one complain that it suck- 

 ers, and gives too much trouble? Th-en let .them 

 go back to the June roses and talk no more about 

 their devotion to the Queen of Flowers. It is ad- 

 mitted that the Manetti stock does sucker ; but 

 upon established and properly treated plants the 

 tendency is so slight that a real rose lover should 

 be heartily ashamed to make complaints, when he 

 receives such complete return for his slight care. 

 I consider it important that the rose should be so 

 worked that the whole of the Manetti should be 

 under ground, as in the case of the quince for the 

 pear. In such condition it is my experience that 

 the plant is quite as long lived and more vigorous 

 than when on its own root — vigor is all-important 

 to free and perfect fall-bearing, 



"Again, it is necessary to a succession of flowers 

 that the plant should not exhaust itself in June. 

 A. Baldwin apple tree, that has loaded itself to the 

 grotind, we do not ask to bear again for two years, 

 A rose will bend under its burden, constantly, 

 throughout the year. Three-foui'ths of the June 

 buds must be nipped, the strongest shoots must be 

 checked, and some branches severely cut back. 

 Then the plant will throw out new laterals with 

 vigor, and the crowning buds will open in all the 

 magnificence of June. Does some drone here put 

 in a word about all this trouble ? Then go back 

 again to the old June rose, and boast no more of 

 your allegiance. A word about winter manage- 

 ment, I have found that plants do best wlien re- 

 moved every year,- Opportunity is thus given to 

 trench and enrich the soil and put the ground in 

 fine tilth, in the spring, at planting. When remo- 

 val is practised, plants are best wintered by bury- 

 ing them root and branch in a dry, light mound, 

 away from all vermin, and, to a partial extent, 

 away from frost. This method is preferable to cel- 

 lars, or cold-frames, being less troublesome, and 

 better for the plants. It is beautiful to see the 

 plump buds and the fresh wood full of sap — kept 

 by the cool, genial moisture of mother earth. By 

 this method of "living burial," the most tender 

 roses may be preserved. But it is, of course, es- 

 sential that the mound should be light and dry, so 

 that winter rains will quickly drain off. Should 

 this method of yearly transplanting seem too labo- 

 rious, a plan answering nearly as well as this, is to 

 draw up a generous hill of earth around each plant, 

 and then cut oft' all the wood that appears above 

 ground, taking care that the extreme roots are not' 

 exposed by this hilling process," 



