How to Grow "Dingee Roses" 



All Dingee Roses are propagated under such J 

 favorable conditions that our shibboleth, "Dingcc 

 Roses Go and Grow Everywhere," is literally true; 

 but common sense tells us that certain kinds of 

 Roses thrive better in some localities than in others. 

 We have tried to indicate as nearly as possible, in 

 connection with the different classes of Roses, the 

 section of the country in which each will thrive to 

 its full perfection with the least amount of protection. 



Preparation of Beds 



The way to get the best results from Roses when 

 planted in beds is to make a trench to a depth of 

 15 to 18 inches, that is, the soil should be removed 

 to that depth, well pulverized and mixed with from 

 one-third to one-fourth its bulk with well-rotted 

 animal manure, cow stable manure preferable where 

 it can be obtained. Before filling in the bed it is 

 well to put in some material for drainage, such as 

 soft coal cinders, broken crockery or stones, not too 

 large. Then return the soil to the trench, and when 

 returned it should stand from 3 to 4 inches higher 

 than the surrounding ground, as it will quickly 

 settle below the surface. It is necessary to do this 

 in order that rainwater will drain quickly away 

 from the bed. If, however, the soil you remove 

 from the trench is not the best Rose soil, as the 

 best kind of soil for Roses is a clayey loam; if your 

 soil does not contain this, it can be improved by 

 mixing in sods from the roadside or fields; but if 

 your soil is too heavy, it should be lightened with a 

 portion of sand. The soil, before returning to the 

 trench, should be well pulverized, that is, make it 

 as fine as possible, and also the manure should be 

 pulverized and not left in chunks if you wish to 

 obtain the best results. The selection of your bed is 

 a very important matter. Roses thrive best where 

 they can secure all the sun possible; that is, do not 

 plant them close to trees or shrubbery, as the roots 

 of these extend farther than the branches. Select, 

 if possible, an open situation, where the plants will 

 receive plenty of air and sunshine. It is not, how- 

 ever, necessary that they should receive sunshine 

 the entire day. A southeastern exposure is an ideal 

 one. They will, however, do well in other locations 

 if given the necessary care. Roses do better if they 

 are watered in the morning. 



Fertilizer 



This is a question we are frequently requested to 

 answer. Animal manure from one to two years old, 

 where it can be obtained, is the best. Cow manure 

 is generally preferred, and can be used in fresh con- 

 dition. Horse manure when new is very heating 

 and should not be used while in this condition, 

 except as a winter mulch. Hog, sheep and chicken 

 manure are also very helpful. The last two, how- 

 ever, should be used sparingly. Ground bone is 

 beneficial, but should be secured as fine as possible, 

 and it should be used sparingly. The best method 

 is sprinkling a portion over the bed until the ground 

 is entirely covered, then with the use of a fork it 

 can be dug into the soil and thoroughly mixed. 



Air slaked lime is also beneficial, about a cupful to 

 a plant scattered on the surface in early spring and 

 midsummer. A mulching of cow stable manure is 

 very beneficial during the growing season. It helps 

 to retain the moisture during the dry season, as well 

 as a food for the roots. 



Planting 



As soon as the plants are received it is best to 

 immediately plant, yet if it is impossible to do this 

 the plant should be placed in a cellar or moderately 

 warm place and protected from the sun. Set them 

 upright to admit the free circulation of air. When 

 you receive them they will be wrapped in Sphagnum 

 Moss, which should be removed before planting, as 

 it is used only for protection. Water freely from 

 time to time. The roots should be covered with 

 soil or burlap and never allowed to become dry. 

 Soaking the roots in lukewarm water or thin mud 

 for an hour or two before planting to restore their 

 vitality is beneficial. Do not set the plants too shal- 

 low. They should be planted deeper than they were 

 growing in the pots before shipping. This can 

 easily be determined by an examination of the plant. 

 The roots of the plants should be spread out and 

 not cramped. If you receive^ them with the soil on 

 the roots in which they have been growing, do not 

 remove this soil. Give them as near a natural posi- 

 tion as possible. Use plenty of water after planting 

 and shade for a few days if the sun is hot with news- 

 paper or similar material, and if the season is a dry 

 one an occasional watering will be beneficial. The 

 best time to plant Roses such as we send out, being 

 pot-grown, own-root stock, is in early spring. This 

 refers entirely to pot-grown plants and not dormant 

 plants. By dormant plants we mean field-grown; 

 that is, lifted from the field and have not made any 

 growth whatever. Such plants as these should be 

 set out earlier than pot-grown plants. 



Pruning 



As a rule, the Roses that we send out do not need 

 any pruning, being pot-grown plants. However, if 

 the bushes are more spreading than is desired, it 

 does not injure the plant any to prune it back. This 

 applies only to the pot-grown plants. Pruning can 

 be done at any season of the year with a certain 

 class of Roses, but it is a matter to be governed by 

 the judgment of the possessor of the plants. The 

 best time for pruning is early spring, just before 

 they begin to break at the eyes. Then it is well to 

 trim Roses back to about one-third to one-half the 

 season's growth. The larger and heavier the growth 

 the more it should be trimmed. 



Winter Protection 



The protection necessary to keep Roses safely 

 through the winter months depends entirely upon 

 the character of the plant and the location. For 

 such Roses as the Hybrid Perpetuals, Rugosas, Har- 

 rison's Yellow, etc., very little protection, if any, is 

 necessary in any climate, yet it is beneficial in the 

 cold latitudes of the North to give them protection 

 of strawy horse stable manure after the first hard 

 freeze. The soil itself is a good protection. When 



