THE ROSE 
Perhaps there is no flower grown in California that more interest is taken in than the Rose. This State is famous the world over for its 
beautiful and large variety of Roses. In this climate every variety known to the rosarian car, lie round in most ,,r i|„. ••■mU.ns Th P 
dainty Tea thrives equally as well as does its more rugged sister, the Hybrid 1'orpetual. Ma\ is the month wh.-r one -a-es 1 Irs" nu'epii of 
flowers in all her glorious beauty. Roses! Roses! everywhere; all varieties can be seen in' bloom; houses and tw* Vr- covered »-jt'h 
them; the senses become satiated with their prodigal luxuriance. Year by year the country is becoming filled with them bosr i,..-> 
the order of the day. Californians must have some safety valve to let but their superabundance of "roses " What ii »rni.| ide a "i'r s ir 
keep on planting. Every one who does such work is fulfilling a beautiful work for Cod. he is hrlpin* to iwanlih bis land in which ne li"e 
May the good work go on for generations to come. This State, situated on the verge oil He Occident is sandy biased above alt a hers God 
furnishes us with soil, climate, and moisture to bring the rose to perfection; all that is asked of us is to plant and cultivate, ami nature will 
do the rest. 
To help the busy city man who delights "rus in urbe" we will specially appeal; to help him in simplifying the culture of the rose will be 
our aim. Man delights in primeval occupations, and the cultivation of the soil conies first. It is a jvUVtiPnn trnin rit. lu , mi ... „).,, , 
length to his days and joy to his heart. Cincinnatus, tired of Senate troubles, retired to Ins farm where be pursued pea i , - 
occupations. 1 r* 1 • 
PLANTING SEASON 
First of all, let us tell you WHEN to plant. December, January, February, and March are the best months, but should the season be 
favorable and with a little extra care, you can still plant during the early part of April. The plants sent during llio.se months nr.- »l b 
we call dormant two-year-o d plants, and average from one and a half feet to two and a half feet; 111 u.-teht, andaie taken up without sob 
around the roots, and are packed m damp moss. Should the purchaser be unable to plant them uiuuediateh ( lie; will lake no harm to remain 
1 "uned Pa r a ° r they be ° pened up and " neeled " in tne ground until ready to set out. The bushes sent out are already 
Roses give the best results when planted in good heavy sediment soil, to which may be added some good old stable r 
that it ought to be well decayed. Under no circumstances use FRESH or new manure. After the bob' is aboiu ll „ 
soil, give some water to settle the earth around the roots; then put the remaining soil into the hole Tins is mindly enough 
during the winter, provided we have not a long, dry period; in (hat ease the plants should get another watering at ree,ihrr "intervals TJiev 
will commence to bloom the first; season abler planting, in May and June, and if properly treated will give an aliunbanee ol hovers ife ,., ., 
season. After the blooms are past, we advise you to cut the old flowers off; this ireatinent mduees tbern to make new «row h trey v ; •„.; 
you will obtain your next crop. To aid them at that iiniu, keep them freely watered and by so doing .you can have Mower, eve mlo 
December. 
PRUNING 
A few remarks on this important point is now necessary. This should be done during the months of January and February ; at that time 
the bushes are in a dormant condition. The "Teas," or Ever-blooming Varieties require to be more severeh pruned than any obnei . 
they are the strongest growers. Cut back to about six or seven inches from flie old wood, I. limning out all weak wa.od and' hi, 
five or six shoots, according to size of plant; apply the same method that the orchardist does to Ins fruit trees and vou will be about ybdd 
The idea is not to leave too much wood, on the plain,. If vou follow this method, you will have tame roses with hum stems If vou fail m 
pruning and thinning out, you will have a plethora of small blooms. 
THE HYBRID TEAS should have almost as much pruning done to them as the Teas. 
HYBRID PERPETUAL sorts, not being such strong growers nor making so much wood as the preceding, do not require so much work 
done on them. 
NOISETTE or CHAMPNEY varieties, being all climbers and strong, rampant growers, are not usually pruned, as their duties are to cover 
certain objects. They should, however, be periodically thinned out. 
BOURBON sorts should be pruned according to the growth they have made. 
MOSS ROSES require very little pruning, as they usually make only a few shoots in the season. 
VARIETIES OF ROSES 
We do not intend to enumerate all known sorts to the rosarian, but confine our remarks to such sorts as succeed best in California. 
First of all come the TEAS, or EVER-BLOOMING. These are more generally planted in this State than any other variety, for the reason 
that they are the most profuse and longest bloomers. If properly treated, flowers can be had from them nine months in the. year. The 
first crop appears in April, May, and part of June. 
The "Tea" is perfectly at home in this State, and this is the only State in the Union, perhaps, where they can remain out all winter without 
any protection. The TEAS have all very dainty, delicately beautiful bowers, mostly with long pointed buds. They, however, lack the rich 
fragrance (although possessing a charming odor peculiar to themselves) which emanates from their more rugged and hardy sisters, the 
Hybrid Perpetuate; this, however, is amply offset b\ their rnuliifude of bloom. 
HYBRID TEAS are produced from crossing TEAS with Hybrid PERPETUALS, and partake of the rich fragrance of the Hybrids and 
the florification of the Teas. "La France," known to every one, is in this class. They are a most desirable class. 
HYBRID PERPETUAL sorts produce much larger and more durable flowers than either of the two preceding kinds, and have a strong, 
rich fragrance, which to our thinking is the making of a rose. Take the American Beauty (known to all), for instance. What other can 
compare with it in its 'rich penetrating odor? Unfortunately, however, Hybrid Perpetuate are not continuous bloomers: consequently 
they are not planted so extensively as the Teas. 
THE NOISETTE or CHAMPNEY varieties are all strong, rampant growers, and are used as climbers, and include such sorts as the old 
favorite "Marechal Niel," so universally esteemed, "Cloth of Gold" and "William Allen Richardson." 
POLYANTHA, or BABY ROSES. The blossoms of these are small miniature blooms, appearing in clusters and are great favorites. 
They are free bloomers. 
Besides the above varieties, we have the BOURBON, BANKSIA, MOSS, JAPAN, and SWEETBRIARS. 
SOIL AND POSITION 
Again California is ahead in regard to soils and sunlight. There are very few places in the garden where the rose will not succeed. Our soil 
is pre-eminently adapted for the health of the rose, and sunlight we have to our heart's content; only, bear in mind, do nor plant, voui 
roses in a too shady place, and if your soil is sandy, add a quantity of loam and old manure to enrich it, as. the rose ddteiils p ••',„ 
rich soil. 
WATERING 
The best way to do this is to dig a ditch around your bushes and run the water into it, afterwards putting back the dry soil; by this means 
the water gets to the roots. Avoid surface watering, which in a great many eases u reaches the. roots and only tends ti bake and harden 
the surface. Better one GOOD WATERING once a week than SPRINKLING them every day. Occasionally 'shower thern overhead at 
night to keep the foliage free from dust. You can also give them during the summer months liquid cow manure every two or three weeks. 
DISEASES 
You must not expect in the genial climate of California to have your roses entirely free from insects, but they are few and easily controlled. 
APHIS, or GREEN FLY, is a small green louse, appearing on the young, tender shouts and buds. They are very prolilic in breedbm' 
Through their tender beak they suck the juices of the plants, always working at the tender shoots, and will in a short time, if unmolested 
destroy the vigor and vitality of any plant they infest. REMEDIES: Tobacco in any form is fatal to them; sprinkle powdered tobacco 
on the bushes. The best time to do this is in the morning when there is moisture on the foilage; or soak tobacco stems in water till it is about 
the color of weak tea and apply with a syringe. When possible, fumigate the plants with tobacco smoke. Another remedy: One pound 
Quassia (Quassia Armara) Chips, which can be obtained at any drug store, and put in four gallons of water and boil for ten minutes; after 
straining off the chips, add one pound soft soap. This solution is to be applied with a syringe. 
MILDEW. When your plants become covered with a whitish-looking mould or dust, the disease is Mildew. Unless a very severe, attack, 
it will probably not kill them, but retard their growth. It is caused by sudden atmospheric changes, and is generally worse in the spring when 
the nights are cold and the days are warm. Some varieties are more susceptible to this than others. The best plan is NOT to wait until 
the disease appears, but "taking time by the forelock," dust them in the morning with powdered sulphur, or if the disease has made its 
appearance, syringe with a solution of sulphide of potassium. 
ROSE SLUG. About the size of the common house fly and comes from the ground in early spring. The best remedies are powdered 
white hellebore or a solution of whale oil soap. 
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