ROSES AND ROSE GARDENS. 



177 



Manetti. This is another disease that is not thoroughly understood yet, for a Marechal Niel 

 or other Rose may be suffering from it badly, and yet a second plant, placed in the same 

 soil and under exactly similar treatment, will go on for many years and not develop the 

 least suspicion of the disease. Canker is a warty lump that develops quickly. The decay 

 seems to work inw ards and constrict the plant. It usually occurs near the base of a plant, 

 and has more than once been noticed in greater virulence than usual after a strong-growing 

 Rose has been cut hard back' while in full growth and sap. On the other hand, plants 

 have been so pruned year after year with no ill results. It is not caused by an insect 

 in the fust place, or we should undoubtedly not find the many isolated examples among 

 Roses in perfect health. That insects visit such cankered growth, and by irritation succeed 

 in drawing the sweet sap which would eventually form into callus, and thus are to 

 some extent responsible for the rapid failing of an affected plant, the writer has not the 

 least doubt. 



The best cure, or rather assistance to a plant so affected, seems to be to remove as 

 much as possible of the excrescence and give an application of fresh cow dung. At the 



A ROSE-COVERED DOORWAY. 



same time, it is always well to have a young specimen ready to take its place, and, as 

 before remarked, it is highly improbable that this will also develop the disease. 



Green-fly or aphis is the most prevalent insect enemy. It troubles Roses both under 

 glass and in the open ground, and is generally a great trial early in the season. Its 

 appearance is too well known to need any description here. 



Red spider is generally worse under glass, but can be easily battled against if the 

 atmosphere be kept more moist. Once it has obtained a firm hold upon the foliage, it 

 forms small webs beneath the leaves, and it is difficult to reach them witli any liquid 

 solutions. It is not red in any way, but a minute grey-coloured insect which soon causes 

 the leaves to put on a parched, starved appearance and cripples the plant seriously. 



Thrips cause much the same appearance, but are a tiny, dirty brown insect with a 



