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BETTER FRUIT 



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SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF ROSES 



BY WILLIAM S. SIBSON. SIBSON ROSE NURSERIES, PORTLAND, OREGON 



UPON arrival of plants, open the 

 package in some sheltered place, 

 where drying winds cannot penetrate. 

 Sprinkle the roots and tops with water, 

 then cover with a sack or something 

 until planted. Should the ground be too 

 wet for planting dig a shallow trench, 

 lay the plants therein and cover the roots 

 well with soil until the ground and 

 weather are favorable. 



Should frost prevent planting do not 

 open the package, but put in a cool 

 house or shed, where there is no fire. 

 Cover with sacks or straw, and await 

 favorable weather. 



Delay in transit will occasionally hap- 

 pen, and perhaps from having been so 

 long on the way some of the plants may 

 look shriveled. In such a case dig a 

 trench, lay the plants quite flat therein 

 and cover both roots and tops with soil. 

 Then soak well with water and keep 

 them covered three or four days. It is 

 wonderful how this method will revive 

 the plants, which will usually entirely 

 recover plumpness and good condition. 



"Roses love shelter and warmth, and 

 the choice of a situation should, if pos- 

 sible, be regulated by these considera- 

 tions. At the same time they will 

 endure severe exposure, and no one need 

 hesitate to plant even if the situation be 

 less favorable than could be desired." — 

 William Robinson. Any good garden 

 soil is suitable, that with a good, loamy 

 subsoil being the best. Dig the ground 

 to a depth of at least eighteen inches, 

 well pulverizing the soil and mixing 

 plenty of old, well rotted manure. In 

 case of budded roses, place the union 

 of the stock with the bud about three 

 inches below the surface. Spread the 

 roots out carefully (not allowing manure 

 to come in contact with them); place 

 some fine soil among and over them, 

 tread in firmly, then fill in with the 

 remaining soil. 



Old cow manure is the best fertilizer for 

 roses, and after the plants become estab- 

 lished they are gross feeders. To obtain 



the best results an occasional drenching 

 at the roots with weak liquid manure is 

 essential, especially after the buds are 

 formed, and during their development. 

 In the late autumn, when the ground is 

 dry, apply a surface dressing of manure, 

 which, after remaining through the win- 

 ter, should be spaded in the following- 

 spring. 



Strong growing, vigorous kinds should 

 be cut back moderately to six or eight 

 eyes. The weaker and moderate grow- 

 ers must be pruned closer, to three or 

 four eyes. In all cases cut out old, 

 infirm, weak and unripe wood, leaving 

 only the well ripened shoots. Always 

 cut to an eye pointing outward, which 

 tends to keep the plant shapely, and the 

 center open. The above refers to hybrid 

 perpetual, hybrid tea and tea sorts. 

 When planted in the spring prune just 

 before planting. 



Climbing roses should not be cut back 

 severely. The tips of the healthy shoots 

 only should be taken out, and the remain- 

 ing shoots thinned out. 



If the weather be dry newly planted 

 roses should be sprinkled overhead daily 

 with water, and well saturated when 

 necessary at the roots. Established 

 plants should be treated to weak liquid 

 manure occasionally, as above. 



Aphis are sometimes troublesome, but 

 good cultivation will often prevent their 

 ravages. When they appear cultivate 

 the ground and sprinkle the plants with 

 tobacco dust or insect powder, spraying 

 them afterward with water. The cater- 

 pillar or rose grub- must be picked off 

 by hand. 



One of the best remedies for mildew 

 is flour of sulphur dusted over the 

 affected part as soon as it makes its 

 appearance. A weak solution of bor- 

 beaux mixture, sprayed over the plants 

 in winter and early spring after growth 

 begins, will often prevent the ills to 

 which the rose is liable. 



Rub off weakly ingrowing shoots as 

 soon as they appear, and pick out with 



ROSE, LYON 



the point of a pencil or similar instru- 

 ment the small and undersized flower 

 buds, leaving only the center flower bud 

 on each flowering shoot. This method 

 is pursued when extra fine blooms 

 are required for competition or other 

 purposes. 



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A man who has had ten years' experi- 

 ence in handling commercial orchards is 

 open for engagement. Had charge of 

 one of the largest bearing orchards in 

 Oregon for five years. References given 

 on request. Address R. M., care "Better 

 F"ruit," Hood River, Oregon. 



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Editor Better Fruit: 



Your work is splendid. Please continue to 

 censor your articles, as I depend on them for 

 new and valuable ideas. E. H. Roberts, Peonia, 

 Colorado. 



AUTOMOBILE ENTERED FOR THE ROSE I- F.STI \'.\L r.\l<.\l)E ON THE FRONT LAWN, IN THE RESIDENCE SECTION OF 



PORTLAND,, OREGON PORTLAND, OREGON 



