ROSES AND THEIR CULTURE 
A deep, rich, loamy soil is best suited to produce fine blooms for exhibition ; but 
IRoses may be grown successfully even in the poorest sandy or gravelly land, if they 
be well supplied with fertilizing materials. Very stiff and wet soils should be under- 
drained, and made lighter by applying leaf mold, sand and decayed vegetable rub- 
bish. Light and dry soils may be unproved by intermixing clay or heavy loam. 
Enriching. The best and safest manure comes from the stable. This may be 
improved by bein^ composted with good loam or garden soil several weeks before 
being applied. Ihis should be thoroughly mixed through the soil. When diluted 
with water, it is a powerful fertilizer, and may be used in wet weather in strong 
solution, but in dry weather it should be very much diluted. When stable manure 
can not be had, waste-house water or superphosphate can be used with good results. 
Buying. Send yoin- orders early; several months before planting time, if possible. 
Payment will not be required until the time of shipment. If you are not acquainted 
■with varieties, buy of a nursery that you can trust, and leave the selection to the pro- 
prietors. Rose growers, who have devoted many years to their culture, are the best 
judges of what you need, and it is for their interest, as well as yours, to supply you 
with such varieties as will meet your expectations. The finest Roses are always 
grown in the largest quantities, and are well worthy of the trifling extra care which 
they require to give them a start in life. Our Nursery is always open to visitors, and 
selections can h^ made at any time. 
Stocks. Many choice Roses, while young, grow better if budded on some vigor- 
ous-growing kind than when on their own roots. All varieties, however, which 
have native vigor are raised on their own roots. Dwarf Roses should be worked as 
ours are, al the level of the ground, and on the Manetti, which is a very strong- 
growing stock. 
Planting. Roses which are on their own roots are planted the same depth as 
before removal. Budded Roses have much stronger roots, and show by an abrupt 
offset where the bud was inserted and the stock cutoff. When transplanted, this 
junction miist be set 3 or 4 inches below the surface of the ground. This favors the 
formation of new roots from the budded or top portion and greatly lessens the ten- 
dency of the roots to send up suckers, which must never be permitted to grow. The 
roots must not be exposed to frost nor allowed to become dry. The soil should be 
firmlv compressed about the roots, and most of the top should be cut away before 
planting. If the soil and weather be dry, a good soakmg of water may be applied, 
and then shade the ground and plants with mulching. If shaded by paper or other 
devices from drying winds until they commence growing, their success will be 
assured. The season for transplanting hardy Roses is April, May, October and 
November. 
Pruning. This should be regulated by the habit of growth, the weak shoots cut 
in closely, the strong left longer. Moss Roses need the least pruning. Hybrid 
Perpetuals, grown to produce Howers for exhibition, require close pruning before the 
middle of April, the weak shoots being cut close back, and the strong ones to 5 or 6 ' 
€yes. If less is cut away, the number of blooms will be larger, but the size of the 
flowers will be smaller. Climbing Roses should have their old shoots and such as 
are weak entirely cut away, while several vigorous branches may be left their entire 
length. 
Watering. In dr>' weather water is of much benefit, if properly applied. Fre- 
quent surface waterings are worse than none, for they seldom fail to produce bad 
health and disease. When water is given, it should be in sufficient quantity to 
reach the lower roots, and to prevent its quickly drying out a mulch on the surface is 
very useful. 
Roses do not need to be coddled. They resist cold with a slight covering of leaves 
at the beginning of winter. They are among the first plants to be put on foliage in " 
the spring, growing even with light snow about them. When transplanted in April, 
it is only a few weeks before they greet us with flowers of the grealest beauty and 
the most exquisite fragrance. Like the strawbeiry among fruits, they yield the 
quickest, most beautifuland bountiful returns for the trifle of labor and care we give 
tnem. Both are our hearty entertainers. How much ihey help to make the famous 
month of June the loveliest of the year ! And yet we have Roses which in some gar- 
dens bloom all summer, and why? A rich soil, a sunny location, and plenty of 
water; but extreme damage comes by too frequent or injudicious watering. 
From the Church Family of Shakers. We have bought trees at your Nursery a 
great many times and have always found them satisfactory. In the last lot of 240 
trees, only three died. 
