"^M OlNGEE^ C^ftl)G):^ST GrOVeR'' 

 OWN ROOT ROSES 



To the person unacquainted with the various methods of pro- 

 ducing Roses it is necessary to say a few words in regard to the 

 way in which Dingee Roses are grown. For over 75 years we have 

 produced Roses in the same manner, and in all that time we 

 have had very few complaints concerning the strength of the 

 stock which we send out. In fact, in our files there are thousands 

 of letters testifying to the satisfaction which Dingee Roses have 

 given. 



Own root Roses are Roses which are grown on roots which 

 are sent out from a slip taiken from a parent plant. This 

 means tha t only the blood of a parent is in the new plant. 

 In figure 1 can be seen a so-called rooted cutting. Notice 

 the fibrous roots which have formed at the base of the 

 cutting and also the manner in which the growth is sent 

 forth from the two eyes just above the sand in which the 

 cutting is rooted. It can easily be seen that once such 

 roots are established the plant will grow for years, barring 

 diseases and winter-killing, which of course can be guarded 

 against. In other words, a plant produced in this manner is 

 one which has ail the charateristics of its parent, and these 

 remain unchanged throughout the years. All growth on 

 such a plant is made from its own roots and this growth is 

 a natural one, not growth produced by unnatural means. 



On the other hand grafted stock, for which great ad- 

 vantages are claimed, is the growth of a Rose on roots which 

 are those of a difl'erent sort of plant entirely. Graft- 

 ed Roses are produced by placing a bud of the variety 

 of Rose which is desired under the bark of a plant of 

 some specie of shrub, as shown in figure 2. This means 

 that the growth of the bud is derived from the wild 

 foots, and the budded part acquires some of the 

 characteristics of the understock. 



Now, as the growth of the bud is very rapid and vigor- 

 ous, the wood is soft and not the kind of wood that is 

 sent forth from a plant on its own roots. Such a Rose 

 usually blooms the first season. The growth is strong 

 for two or three years, but then, as time goes on, the wild 

 stock begins to assert itseK, and because of its more vigor- 

 ous character sends forth its own growth. That part of 



the plant which has been budded loses its 



vigor as the wild stock gains in vigor. 



Wild shoots are sent forth, and even if 



these are cut back, the increasing loss of 



vigor means that the days of the grafted 



part is over. 



Figure 4 shows how the budded part of 



the plant has died, and shows the vigor 



and strength of the wild part which has 



asserted itself. 



In other words, own root Roses mean 

 permanency whQe grafted Roses mean 

 rapid growth but a butterfly life. Figures 

 3, 5 and 6 show the wonderful strength and 

 marvelous growth of own root plants. 

 Figure 3 is a first size plant as sent out 



by us; figure 5 is a two-year-old Rose grown in a five-inch pot, and figure 6 is a 

 two-year-old Rose, with the soil in which it was grown left on the roots, and 

 wrapped ready to ship. 



Fig. 5— Two-Year-Old Rose in Fot 



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2-Year-Old Rose Taken Out of Pot 



Showing How the Soil 



Remains on roots. 



The Dingee & Gonard Co., West Grove Pa., 

 Gentlemen : — 



Baltimore, Md. 



Last fall I bought a number of grafted or budded Roses and this spring due to the bad 

 weather we have been having lots of cold rain with cold wintry blasts, nearly all of them have 

 died off. As fast as I can I want to replace with own root stock. Thanking you for your kind 

 attention, I am Mr. P. B. Bennett 



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