April, 
IgI2 
Belle Siebrecht!Rose, deep pink 
dle of April or first of May, according to the locality and 
the season. 
Roses are set out in two ways—as ‘dormant roots,” 
which usually are not supplied after April 15th, and started 
in pots. Good results can be had from either, but the latter, 
all things considered, is more satisfactory. If dormant 
roots are ordered, arrangements should be made to plant 
them as soon as received if possible. If for any reason they 
have to be held, dig a shallow trench and pack them in this, 
upright, with the roots covered with fine soil, to keep them 
from dying out. In either case, as soon as the plants 
are received the dormant roots should be placed for 
several hours in a pail of water. 
When setting them out in the 
beds, keep the roots wrapped in 
damp moss, or “puddle” them by 
dipping into liquid mud before start- 
ing out, to obtain the best results. 
The potted plants, if they cannot 
be set out immediately upon arrival, 
may be kept anywhere in the light 
where they are protected from frost. 
The first thing to observe in planting 
is to see that the “union” where the 
bud has been joined to the root stock 
is put about two and a half inches 
below the level of the soil. This is 
very important, because by far the 
biggest part of the Roses sent out 
are ‘“grafted’’—that is, a little slip 
of the variety wanted is joined onto 
the root of a strong-growing sort. 
The advantage of this process is that 
it gives plants more vigor, capable 
of giving more and finer blooms, fre- 
quently earlier blooming, and in the 
case of tender varieties, such as 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
epee Pearl rush Rose, brilliant white 
115 
Caroline Testout Rose, satiny pink 
many of the Hybrid Teas, more hardy and long-lived than 
those on their own roots. The one disadvantage is that 
they have a tendency to throw up worthless “suckers” 
from the root-stock, especially if not planted deep enough. 
This is not serious, however, as all such can be readily 
distinguished from the fact that they have seven small 
leaves instead of the usual five, and if removed on sight 
will cause no trouble. 
In setting the Roses in the soil, be sure to make the holes 
large enough to take all the roots without bending or crowd- 
ing. If any are broken or torn, they should be cut off clean 
at the point of fracture. If the soil in the garden is at all 
lumpy or coarse, some sifted fine soil 
should be provided for filling in the 
holes, for no air spaces should be 
left about the roots. 
If the soil is at all dry, water the 
plants while setting—that is, after 
about half the soil has been filled in 
give a good watering, and let this 
soak in before putting in the rest of 
the soil. The most important par- 
ticular in planting, however, is to get 
the plants in firmly. Probably more 
Roses fail from this cause than from 
any other. Pack the soil in as firmly 
as possible with the hands about the 
roots—which should be spread out 
nearly laterally—and then press in 
with the whole body’s weight by 
placing a foot on either side of the 
stem. A well-known nurseryman re- 
lates the story of a woman who 
wrote him complaining that all her 
beautiful Rose plants had died, ex- 
cept one, which her husband had ac- 
cidentally stepped on after planting. 
‘A 
