STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 145 



you to look into its richly perfumed heart of hearts. Deeply im- 

 pressed with the exquisite gradations of form and color, having fin- 

 ished our selection, we are in a frame of mind to quickly pass from 

 the sentimental to the practical, and to receive hints as to the neces- 

 sary conditions of culture to secure the best results. It i> upon this 

 branch of the sulyect, I presume, that I am desired to givr any in- 

 formation I am able to offer. 



When you plant roses, you desire an abundance of blossom and. 

 luxuriance of growth ; to produce these results, you mu'^t give the 

 necessary conditions of soil, judicious pruning, climate and location. 



Your soil, if not naturally so, must be made as nearly as possible 

 a deep, porous loam ; on the one hand, not too light and saiidy, nor, 

 on the other, too stiff and cold a clay — as nearly the happy medium 

 as possible — a retentive but thoroughl}- drained soil Almost any 

 soil can be brought to proper condition by spading to the depth of 

 fifteen inches, and incorporating with the natural earth well-rotted 

 manure and sand if too heav}', and of well-rotted manure and claj', 

 and perhaps wood ashes, if too light and sandy. The rose is a 

 hearty feeder, therefore will bear annual manuring, and as results 

 a,re desired to follow annuall>' also, none but u-ell-rotted stable ma- 

 nure or sod should be applied, or such other stimulant as can be 

 readily assimilated with the soil. 



In planting in such a prepared bed, make your holes large enough 

 to place the roots so as not to cramp them, then press well to the 

 I'oots the earth first put in, but leave the surface dirt loose, so as to 

 admit rain or such artificial watering as may be necessary, in a dry 

 time. An excellent liquid manure for watering the soil in immediate 

 proximity to the roots can be made by soaking the sciapings of the 

 •chicken house in a barrel of water a few da3's before using. 



Now as to pruning. Since the rose bears its blossoms only on the 

 young shoots of the current year's growth (as with the grape), 

 therefore in the spring cut back the last year's wood freely, entirely 

 removing an}- dead and half dead branches, and cutting back those 

 you leave to the strongest buds ; cut the unbranched shoots or canes 

 to such height as the bush is desired to be ; each bud left will make 

 a blossom-bearing branch, so don't be afraid to cut back, as from 

 them you will get your finest blossoms if so treated. Roses that 

 fcloom more than once during the summer, such as the Tea, Noisette. 

 Bourbon, China, and the Hardy Monthlies, so-called, or Reraontants, 

 should be pruned back after the first blossoming to a strong bud, then 

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