ROSE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA 



In regard to irrigation I would say that roses should not 

 be watered daily, but that at least once a week (or more 

 or less according to soil and locality) , they should be given 

 a thorough soaking. They may be easily overwatered, as 

 mildew and insect pests attack them when they are 

 weakened by overproduction, and of course the too fre- 

 quent watering vitiates the sap and causes early decay. 



I do not advise the amateur to spend much time in grow- 

 ing slips or cuttings. As a pastime it is all very well, but 

 if you are after immediate results in a fine garden, and cut 

 flowers for your house and friends, then buy well-grown 

 plants, two-year-old if you can afford it, and insist that they 

 be properly "canned" or balled. In planting have the soil 

 well stirred and a hole at least two feet deep. Should your 

 soil be very heavy and of a character to need sub-drainage, 

 then put broken stone or brick in the bottom to secure drain- 

 age. The most profuse bloom will be found in localities 

 where there is a little, or even a good deal of clay. Where 

 the soil is sandy and light, clay and fertilizers must be intro- 

 duced. Roses are gross feeders, and can hardly have too 

 much well-rotted fertilizer, but in my opinion this should be 

 thoroughly mixed with the soil and not allowed to lie on the 

 surface of the ground. Use leaf-mold liberally and tamp 

 thoroughly. You know the test of a good gardener is that 

 he "weigh ten stun and ha'e large feet." Where roses 

 come balled from the nursery the ball is hard and often 

 quite impervious to moisture, and unless the soil about is 

 equally well packed all nourishment runs away from the roots. 



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