HOW TO GROW ROSES 



A Pleasant Hobbu ^^'^^^'^^^ ^o?.^^ is not an expensive luxury neither 



^ does it require a large amount of hard labor. It 



is not necessary even to go to the expense of preparing the bed to any great 

 extent other than spading well-decayed manure deeply in the soil. 

 However, to raise the very best Roses it is advisable to trench the soil 

 about two and one-half feet deep. When doing this throw whatever stones 

 may be found in the soil on a pile by themselves, so that they can be put 

 in the bottom of the trench for drainage. There should be four or five 

 Provide Drainage ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ drainage material in the bottom of 



s—i the bed so that all surplus water will drain away 



quickly. If the soil is naturally well drained it will be unnecessary to pro- 

 vide drainage. Nothing is more prejudical to the health of Roses than 

 poorly drained soil. Refill the trench with the soil taken from it to which 

 has been added some well-decayed cow-manure, but do not add manure to 

 the top layer of 9 to 12 inches of soil unless very well decayed, for fresh 

 manure, when it comes in direct contact with Rose roots, injures them. It is 

 a good idea to mix with the soil in the bottom of the trench a few broken 

 bones, say a peck for a bed holding a dozen Roses — they will furnish plant- 

 food for the Roses for three or four years to come. Tramp the soil in the 

 bed and let it settle. This work should be done as far in advance of plant- 

 ing as possible so that the soil will be firm at the time of setting the plants. 

 Should the soil be very light or sandy it can be greatly improved by mixing 

 a little clay with it when trenching. Heavy soils can be made lighter 

 and more open by adding sand, or even coal-ashes. 



Time to PInnf "^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ plant Roses is in the spring, but hardy 



^ kinds if they can be had in the dormant state may be 



planted in the autumn with success if it is more convenient. If planted in 

 the fall Roses must be carefully protected. In spring the Hybrid Perpet- 

 uals and the Rugosa Roses should be planted as early as the ground can be 

 worked, which is about the last of March in the latitude of Philadelphia. 

 These can be planted out earlier because they are usually sent in the dor- 

 mant state, but the Roses which are usually in leaf when shipped should 

 not be planted until late April and on until June. The purchaser should 

 understand that many of our Roses are shipped in full leaf, each plant 

 having a good ball of earth so that there is no danger of its dying. Some 

 of the Hybrid Perpetuals, the Ragosas, Briars and Hardy Climbers are 

 shipped up to mid- April in a dormant condition. 



Tro^^r^..^* ^*> A^^.^^1 When vou receive the Roses, give them the 

 Ireaiment on Arnval. ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ . ^^^.^^ expose the roots to the 



drying action of spring winds for a moment. A plant with bare roots exposed 

 to the dry air is like a fish out of water. Should the plants, through delay 

 in transit, come dried out, as occasionally happens, soak the balls of earth 

 and roots in water ; if the stems have dried out, bury the whole plant, after 

 soaking the ball, in damp earth for several days. This treatment may put 

 them in good condition, while if they are planted when dried out there is 

 more danger of their dying. 



Planting, ^'^^^ "^^^f^l^ 

 — ^ plant unpack the 



plants in a shaded place, pro- 

 tected from the wind. Keep 

 the roots covered with damp 

 burlap, moss or other mater- 

 ial until the actual moment 



of planting ; spring winds are 



so drying that fatal damage '^^^^^ ^f atones like this are unessential if the 



may occur through a few ground is naturally well drained 



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