CROP TALK 



by John Milton 



From time to time in the growing season, I 

 make a point of going to the rose fields to see 

 how the new crop is getting on. I invariably 

 get a lift from these excursions because the rose 

 plants look so healthy and vigorous — the very 

 picture of Nature fulfilhng itself in response to 

 ideal conditions and to the interest of the men 

 whose responsibihty it is to care for the roses. 

 Invariably, too, I am pleased that we are able 

 to grow such fine plants for our customers, and 

 I wish that every gardener could see them so 

 that he could appreciate what quahty rose 

 plants look like. I daresay that some of you 

 would be pleasantly surprised. 



This year, the crop is a very good one in 

 more ways than one. First, the plants are in 

 top condition — as lusty as Fve ever seen them. 

 Second, our new introductions, which are avail- 

 able this fall for the first time, are headed by 

 an All-America winner for 1962 — and you can't 

 do better than that! This rose is called Christian 

 Dior after the famed French fashion designer. 



and it's the only new red Hybrid Tea rose in 

 the last nine years which the experts rated good 

 enough to take the top award. Naturally, we're 

 very proud of it. 



Rounding out our quartet of new rose intro- 

 ductions are three others which are also dis- 

 tinguished enough to bear the Star Rose label. 

 After all, they were selected by us for intro- 

 duction after years of being under close observa- 

 tion here in our own testing fields. AA e think 

 they are worthy "running mates" with Chris- 

 tian Dior in the bid for your approval. Together, 

 all four new roses present a varied, interesting 

 and beautiful group. War Dance, pictured on 

 the cover, is a red, red Grandiflora; Ranzai is a 

 Hybrid Tea in a dehghtful raspberry and cream 

 blend; La Fontaine, a clear yellow Flori- 

 bunda. 



As you read this, the harvesting of this good 

 crop of Star Roses is about to begin. The com- 

 ing of Autumn has begun the hardening-off 

 process which leads the matured roses into 

 dormancy — the "sleeping" period from wliich 

 they will again spring to fife in thousands of 

 gardens across the country when winter is over 

 once more. 



• BANZAI 



One of the roses which 

 came through our tough pre- 

 introduction testing period 

 with flying colors is Banzai. 

 ^^ e watched this one, as we 

 watch all of our many "pos- 

 sible" intro(hicli()iis, with an 

 eaiik' eye. After it biname a 

 " prohable" iutrochiclion, wo 

 i-ealK [»ul it under a micni- 

 >cope, so to speaU. lo lir a^ 

 sure as we could thai [\\\<- 

 lose was trulv worlli I'lirllK r 

 coitsideial i()(i and a tinal 

 l>lessirig. Tliis piocess of 

 ^electing a new rove is a 

 leuiitliy one. but \\( "xc Inund 

 lliat tlic years ,s|)enl in ol>- 

 serving growing characteris- 

 lies. color, form, etc. are very 

 worth while. When wc offer 

 \on a new Star Hose, you can 

 lie sure I hat it's not a lemonl 



Copyright 1 961 by The Conard-Pyle Co. 



