I O THE DINGEE & CONARD COMPANY S 



cut off early in the spring down to the live wood, it will usually push up new 

 shoots, and bloom as well as ever. In winter protection, there are a few obser- 

 vations that should be kept steadily in view. ist. Do not give too much pro- 

 tection; this is worse than not enough. 2d. Defer covering for winter as late 

 as possible; moderate freezing is not injurious. 3d. Uncover at the proper time 

 in the spring, just when this is it is difficult to direct, as it must depend on the 

 locality, the weather, and the season. It should, of course, not be done until 

 the frost has entirely left the ground, and the growing season is at hand. If the 

 plants have but a slight protection, such as evergreen boughs or straw, a few 

 days earlier or later will not make much difference ; but if covered with earth. 

 they are in a condition to be more easily injured by sudden changes in the 

 temperature, or dr^ang winds, and should therefore not be uncovered until 

 there is a prospect of reasonably settled weather ; and even then it is well to 

 cut off at least one-half the last season's growth, in order to guard against too 

 rapid evaporation. 



To cover with straw or evergreen boughs, if set singly, drive a stake firmly 

 by the side of the plant, tie it nicely to the stake, then take straight straw or 

 boughs of a suitable size, stand them neatly and closely around, and bind firmly 

 together. If the plants are in a bed, give a covering of straw or leaves, that 

 will be four to six inches thick when settled, then put boughs thickly and 

 neatly over the whole, or boughs will answer very well alone, or leaves alone^ 

 if means are taken to keep them from blowing off. 



To protect with earth, bend the plant down to the ground, and cover with 

 fine soil, six inches or a foot deep, or cover the whole bed six inches deep with, 

 earth. Covering with earth is only recommended for regions of severe and 

 protracted cold, where nothing else will save the plants. Another plan — take 

 an old box or barrel, knock out the top and bottom, turn it over the plant and 

 fill loosely with leaves, or clean straw, or small boughs. When the covering is 

 removed in the spring and the plants pruned, the bed should be nicely dug; 

 over and dressed, after which no further attention is necessary, except to keep 

 it clear of weeds and grass ; with this treatment the plants will be literally 

 covered with roses during the whole season. 



NOTES OF THE YEAR. 



During the past year our intercourse with our customers has been of the most* 

 pleasant character ; this is one of the compensations of the business that we 

 value very highly. The total number of Roses produced and sold during 1875 was 

 nearly double that of any preceding year, and we have reason to believe that the 

 demand for 1876 will be still larger. People do love Roses, and as they find 

 them so cheap and easy to get, and so certain to give satisfaction, the demand 

 steadily increases. 



The Centennial. — Thousands of our friends will doubtless visit the Great 

 Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia this year. It is already a grand suc- 

 cess, and will doubtless be the greatest exhibition of art and industry that the 

 world has ever seen. All the important European and Asiatic Nations are 

 strongly represented in their people and productions. The vast buildings of 

 the exhibition in Fairmount Park, far surpass in extent and completeness any 

 European structures of the kind. Immense hotel and lodging preparations are 



