46 HENDERSON'S GARDEN GUIDE AND RECORD. 



Garden Culture of the R 



ose. 



In answer to thousands of inquiries, which we have each season from our customers, 

 we give the following plain, directions for the culture of the Rose. Our readers will of course 

 understand that the most intelligent cultivation will sometimes prove a failure, owing to 

 adverse seasons or unfavorable soil and location; but under ordinary conditions, if the 

 instructions given below are followed out, success should follow: 



LOCATION AND PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. To obtain the best results, 

 Roses must be planted where they wiU have the fuU benefit of the sunlight; even in a slightly 

 shaded place they never do so well. The soil should be dug to the depth of at least one foot, 

 and thoroughly mixed with not less than two inches of well-rotted stable manure; in the 

 absence of stable manure bonedust should be put on at the rate of 10 lbs. to every 100 

 square feet of surface; this should be weU incorporated with the soil to the depth already 

 named. 



THE BEST TIME TO PLANT is usually about May 1st, in this section, the time 

 varying, of course, according to season and location. In the extreme Southern States they 

 may be planted from October to April; while in the extreme North plantmg may be delayed 

 as late as middle of June. 



POT-GROWN PLANTS that have had a partial rest during winter are by all odds 

 the best to set out, as they are in condition to take root in the soil and grow at once after 

 being planted. We are so firmly convinced of the superiority of this system of cidtm-e that 

 we grow aU our Roses in this way, and ascribe the uniform success obtained in planting 

 our Roses (as compared with dormant stock lifted from the open ground) to this cause 

 alone. In planting, it is only necessary to make a hole a little larger than the ball of earth 

 on the plant, and after it is set in, firm the soil well around the roots, otherwise the dry 

 air will shrivel them up and prevent their development. Never set the plants out should 

 the ground be wet and soggy, but wait until it is fairly dry. After planting give the soil 

 a thorough soaking, and should the earth around the plant be dry it should be thoroughly 

 saturated with water a day or so before planting. 



DISTANCE TO PLANT. The first season of planting, the Roses should be set 

 about one foot apart each way ; the next season, if desired, one-half of them may be moved 

 and planted in another place, as the growth that they will make the second year would be 

 sufl&cient to fill up the space. 



PRUNING. The Hybrid Perpetual class of Roses should be pruned back to two or 

 three buds or eyes each season; the pruning may be done at any period from the time the 

 leaves drop in November until April. The Tea Roses, however, require but little pruning, 

 simply thinning out the shoots where they have grown too thick. 



TREATMENT OF ROSES WHEN RECEIVED. When Roses are received from 



the florist in mid-winter, they should be placed in boxes of any good, rich earth, or in flower 

 pots of a size suitable for the roots, given a good watering, and placed in a temperature, 

 if possible, not to exceed 50 degrees at night, although when the sun is shining through the 

 day 10 or 20 degrees more will do no injury. The amount of water necessary must be 

 determined by their condition — if growing vigorously, and the weather is bright, water 

 may need to be applied each day; if they have not begun to grow freely, and the weathei 

 Is dull and moist, they may not require water more than once or twice a week. If there 

 Is no glass structure such as a greenhouse or pit to place them in, they will do very well 

 placed in some light window facing the east or south; in this condition they will bloom 

 during the winter and spring. If then wanted for out-of-door planting, they should be 

 planted in the open ground after it has been prepared as directed, any time during the 

 first week in May in such latitudes as New York, earlier if farther south, and later if farther 

 north. When Roses are received from the florist at the planting season they should be 

 shaded from the sun for a few days after planting, as being boxed when sent by mail or 

 express, they require this protection from the bright sunlight until they get partly established 

 in the ground. 



