NEW GUIDE TO ROSE CULTURE. 



Planting. 



If the plants when received have a withered ap- 

 pearance, caused by some unusual delay while in 

 transit, which seldom occurs, soak them in luke- 

 warm water for an hour or so to restore their vitality. 

 It should be remembered that they have been grown 

 in a warm temperature, and therefore should not be 

 exposed to extreme cold. If any of the branches 

 or twigs are broken the plant is nowise injured ; 

 cut out the broken parts and new growth will shortly 

 appear. 



The most favorable time for planting in any given 

 locality is when the work of Spring gardening is 

 being prosecuted. Of course, this refers more espe- 

 cially to those sections of the country where, owing 

 to severe Winters, Fall planting is attended with 

 considerable risk. In our Southern States, and 

 where mild Winters usually prevail, many prefer to 

 plant in the Fall. 



After the ground has been thoroughly prepared, 

 manured and mellowed, make holes in the soil about 

 twelve inches apart, set the plant a little deeper than 

 formerly, arrange the roots in their normal position, 

 cover with fine moist earth, pressing it downward 

 firmly and in around the stem. If the weather is hot 

 and the ground dry, water freely after planting and 

 cover with newspapers for a day or so to shield from 

 the effects of the sun. Do not plant if the ground 

 is wet, as it will afterwards bake around the roots 

 and retard the growth. 



Cultivation. 



The earth around the plants should be kept loose 

 and free from weeds and grass to insure their vigor- 

 ous growth. The moisture supplied by the rain and 

 dew is ordinarily sufficient; but during protracted 

 droughts the plants should be watered daily in the 

 evenings. When the dust begins to accumulate in 

 the road and street it may be taken as an indication 

 that the soil is becoming dry, and the supply of water 

 should be regulated accordingly. Use water judi- 

 ciously; too much will be highly injurious. 



Pruning. 



No absolute rule can be laid down for the guidance 

 of the inexperienced ; plants differ so in respect to 

 growth. Many are neat and compact, and need lit- 

 tle or no attention ; others are vigorous and strag- 

 gling, sending out long shoots which tend to outrun 

 the limits assigned them, giving to the bush an un- 

 sightly appearance. Therefore, pruning should be 

 regulated as regards the habits of growth of the dif- 

 ferent varieties under cultivation. The more persist- 

 ent growers can be cut back each Spring from 

 one-half to two-thirds the last season's growth. Trim 

 so as to give the shrub a well-balanced, shapely 

 appearance, cutting out all dead or unthrifty wood, 

 and removing diseased or imperfect blooms as they 

 appear from time to time. 



Winter Protection. 



This is not deemed of so much importance as 

 formerly ; as plants that fail to survive, or whose 

 vitality has been impaired by the rigor of Winter, 

 can now be replaced so readily and at such trifling 

 expense, that it is thought by many scarcely woith 

 the time and trouble involved to secure their preser- 

 vation. 



Each Fall a large percentage of our correspond- 

 ence with customers in all parts of the country has 

 reference to the hardiness of the different varieties 

 of Roses and plants received from us. To those of 

 our customers and friends who have not been prop- 

 erly informed with reference to this subject, a few 

 remarks will suffice. 



In the multiplicity of varieties among the large 

 collection of Roses and plants we offer, numerous 

 kinds run from hardy to unhardy, and are more or 

 less tender; it is, therefore, quite impossible to deter- 

 mine, in many cases, the class to which a certain 

 plant belongs, especially when extreme climatic or 

 other conditions prevail ; and besides, a bed of Roses 

 will contain several varieties, each differing with re- 

 spect to hardiness. It is obvious then, that, in order 

 to Winter your stock of Roses securely, the better 

 plan would be to claim the benefit of the doubt and 

 give them all liberal shelter. This may be done 

 with the material most conveniently at hand, such as 

 leaves, hay, straw, light manures, street sweepings, 

 pine or cedar boughs, etc. A lady out in Illinois 

 writes us that she has her large beds of Roses pro- 

 tected most effectually by having several bundles of 

 corn-fodder neatly stacked around them, a hint which 

 many of our rural friends would do well to make a 

 note of. Do not cover the beds or clumps until Win- 

 ter has fairly set in, and be careful that whatever the 

 material used, it shall admit the air freely and not 

 become soggy, nor decay or ferment. 



When standing alone Roses may be protected by 

 driving a stake alongside the stem ; the plant should 

 be firmly fastened to this, place long straw neatly 

 around and tie with cord to hold in position. An- 

 other plan is to place an old truck barrel over the 

 bush, filling loosely with leaves or straw, displacing 

 some of the staves so as not to exclude the air. 

 Hardy climbing Roses need no protection. 



In Conclusion. 



We most respectfully call the attention of our cus- 

 tomers and friends everywhere to our forthcoming 

 exhibit of flowering plants and ornamental shrub- 

 bery at the World's Columbian Exposition, 

 Chicago. We have spared neither time, trouble nor 

 expense to make the display extensive a"nd attractive, 

 and hope that our efforts in this direction will be 

 recognized and appreciated, and to all those who 

 contemplate a visit to the great fair we earnestly and 

 cordially invite an inspection. 



