NORTHERS GROWN SEEDS AND PLANTS. 
81 
MflY'S GHQKZE I^OSES. 
WE MAKE A SPECIAt^TY OP ROSES. 
We can ship plauts to any section of the world with perfect safety. 
We do not send out CHEAP ROSES. They are dear at any price. 
Our Roses are all strong' thrifty plants in the best possible 
condition for shipping:. 
0\ir mode of packing- is unequaled. 
We gruarantee the safe arrival of all our Roses in g-ood grrowing- 
condition. 
Our prices are low for the grrade of Roses we ship. 
Size of our Roses: First size are 2 years old. Second size are 
from 4-iiich pots. Third size are stroQgpiaiits, ready for blooming, 
grrown expressly for our mail trade. 
MFN^NESOTA OKOAVX ROSKS. 
THE HARDIEST AND MOST PROL fFIC BLOOMERS. 
A Few Practicable Hints on the Culture of the Rose, which, if fol- 
lowed, will insure G-ojd Success in any locality. 
In all tlie wide domain of Flora, the Rose stands pre-eminent — the 
bcmtiful Queen of Flowers. It possesses and unites in oiiecharniing whole 
all those features which sinj^ly characterize our other poijukrr flowers; 
beauty and variety of form, rich colors and delicate tints, with the most 
delightful perfumes. It is withal adapted to such a wide range of climate, 
— from thesunnj* South, where the ever-blooming Teas fielight the eye with 
a never-ceasing display of delicately-tinted and pertumed blossoms, to 
the far North, where each returning season brings forth a glorious burst 
of deepand richly, colorctl blooms, vviththcirpowcrfuland delicious odors. 
Since the history of flowers began, the Rose has held the place 0( honor 
among its beautiful companions, and will continue to reign as long as 
summers come and go. The sight of a perfect rose always awakens the 
purest and most refined feelings in the human breast — a missionary of 
lieaxity and refinement wherever it is found. 
The Rose will live, grow and bloom, when <jnce established with little 
or no attention, but, as with ever^'thing else, perfection can be obtained 
only through skillful and intelligent etTort, and, to b'ingout the glorious 
possibilities of the Rose, requires a knowledge and supply o' its wants. 
We therefore give below general instructions for its cultivation; of 
cotirsc we have no room for an elaborate treatise on Rose growing, but 
if the directions we give are carefully observed the result will prove a 
surprise to most amateurs, bring them an abundantharvest of largcrand 
more richly-colored, fragrant flowers than they perhaps have ever seen, 
for the great majority of Roses planted each year receive no care after 
they begin to grow, and never produce such blossoms as they would 
under good treatment. Insects and disease also seldom attack plants 
which are kept in vigorous growing condition, but seek first the feeble 
and neglected bushes. 
Of all care which is given plants, that is the most important which is 
bestowed on them at the start, and while they are becoming established. 
Consequently particular attention should be given to 
PREPARING THE SOIL. 
As remarked above, Roses will grow with but little cultivation and 
in any common soil, hut they luxtkiatk in a deep soil; if the natural 
soil of the gat den is of this character nothing need be done but to spade 
in adressin^ of well-decomposed manure before planting. Spent hot-bed 
manure is just the kind required, but this cannot always be readily 
obtained, and any thoroughlv-rotted manure will answer if free from 
litter. 
In most gardens the only trouble is that thegronnd is not rich enough. 
This is easily renicdied by npnlying a heavy coat of tnanure and spa<liug 
it in through the soil to the depth of abouteighteen inches; it should be 
thor<iughly incorporated with the soil, and the whole, well broken up 
with the spade. Where the soil is naturally heavy and wet, particular! v 
of a clayey nature, the whole bed will have to be changed before it will 
'grow Roses successfully. To accomplish this, remove the earth from the 
sur ace to the depth of eighteen inches and replace with good soil; this 
latter can be obtained by removing the surface of the sod from an old 
pasture and taking the earth immediately below for about three inches; 
this will he fine and porous, containing the roots and fibres of the grass, 
and, when well manured, makes the best kind of soil for Roses. If the 
pos-tion is very wet, it should, of course, be well drained, as nothing is 
more injurious to Roses than wet soil. Roses planted in a deep, rich soil 
find no lack of food for their roots, and should go on increasmg in size 
and beauty indetiniteTy, each year yielding a larger number of finer and 
richer blossoms. In old Rose gardens may be found thousands of plants 
twenty years old, still growing and improving. 
PLANTING. 
The beds having been prepared for their reception, the Roses may be 
planted as soon as received, if the weather is favorable. Hav<- the roots 
moist, and plant somewhat deeper than grown ; if in dry weather, pour 
in a little water before filling up the hole aronnd the roots, but do not let 
the surface become wet. as this causes it to bake; then press the soil down 
firmly around the plant. Protect for a few <l.ays from the hot sun, until 
the plant becomes established in its new home, "when it should commence 
to grow at once. 
PRUNING. 
The first spring after the roses are planted they will requi-e no pruning, 
except to remove the dead branches; indeed, it i-* not rwces^nry that thev 
shoulfl ever he prune 1 more than this, as they will increase in size each 
year without it ; but their l>eauty is greatly enhanced by always keeping 
the bushes trimmed in good shape. 
>Pruning should be done in the early spring, before the plants commence 
to grow, and the desired shape of the plants should be kept constantly 
in mind while they arc being pruned. 
Hybrid Perpetnals. grown in beds or masses, need only to bave tl'cir 
branches shortened into the highest strong bud, unless the branchirs are 
so long as to hang over, when they should he trimmed more cloj^ely, 
au 1 any shoots which destroy the even balance of the plants should be 
cut out. Teas, and other evcrhloomcrs grown in the same manner, 
may he pruned quite severely, removing entirely any weak branches, 
and trimming back well the stronger ones. 
With isolated specimens, it is an excellent plan to select a leading shoot 
near the center of each, and leave it untouched, while all the oth^r 
branches are pnine i to within three or four eyes of the base. Such 
plants form striking objects when in full bloom. 
Rose hedges should be pruned to a uniform level each spring, and that 
the height that the hedge is desired to be. 
SUMMER CULTIVATION. 
During the S'i*>imer the b"ds should he kept free from wecls, aid the 
soil frc.jii..' itly and thoroughly stirred with a hoe. In hot. dry w<.at'ier 
the plants siiould be watered occasionally, especially during the first 
summer after they are planted. Watering should be done in the morn- 
ing or evening, and never during the heat of'the day ; do not water the 
roses often, but when it is done the ground should be thoroughl \ soaked. 
The best way is to give a good soaking in the evening ancl repeat the 
operation in the morning; this will sulhce for some time, even during 
very hot weather. If convenient, the beds may be treated to a mulch of 
one or two inches of fine rotted manure; this prevents the ground 'rom 
baking, and keeps the roots of the plants cool and moist. 
"WINTER PROTECTION. 
Bvcrgre?n branches, or young evergre?-is. s'larp^ned at the e-»i and 
stuck firmly in the ground around the plants, afford excellent s'lc ter, and 
are ver3' little trou'ile. As with all kinds of protection, these should he 
removed earlj' in the spring. 
Clean rye straw may be neatly stacked around each plant, leaving a 
s'J'iht opening at the top to prevent mildew, and tying the straw to keep 
i t in position ; this need not be done until December, as the rqses are not 
injured as much bj' moderate freezing as they are by being covered too 
early. 
For young plants we find, however, that by far the surest and simplest 
plan is to cover the plants with coarse coal ashes; these should be en- 
tirelyfree from wood ashes, which cause the bark to shrivel, and are very 
injurious. Cinders from railroad locomotives are splendid for this i)ur- 
pnse, and we would advise thc'r use whenever they can be obtained, 
liefore covering, the ■■lant should be cut back about <me-third, removing 
all young, succn"e it shoots; then bend the plant down to the ground, 
pegging it down to keep it in place, and cover to the depth of about a 
foot with the ashes or cinders. Karly in the spring most of the covering 
should be removed, and by the middle of .\pril, orsooner, it shtnil 1 be all 
raked off. This method is not confined to roses only, but dahlias, 
gladioli, tritomas, and even fuchsias can often he preserved in the same 
way. We learn from English periodicals that whole hedges of fuchsias 
are there annually protected in this manner, and come upand bloom each 
season with surprising vigor and freedom. We have known them to 
be wintered safely in this country when covered with ashes, hut we 
cannot speak from experience in regard to them as we can of roses. 
INSECTS. 
In resnect of the principal insect enenrcs of the Rose, a golden r-Oe may 
be offered for the comfort of the anxious amateur, "innate •hem." 
Do full justice to the trees in respect to the soil, — planting, wat ring, 
etc., and you will be but rarely troubled by these plagues, for they 
seek out first the starving roses; they want the trees that have been 
badly used ; they swarm to the garden of the slugcard. where the thorn 
and the thistle grow broader and higher, and generally speaking are 
to be regarded as proofs that the trees are not thriving, and need 
amendment at the root. 
Perhaps the only important exceptions to f'e ab'ive are the rose s:ftiff 
and the rose huff.' The former is a green, sift, slug-l-ke animal, about 
one-quarter of an inch long. They are usuaUv most troublesome in 
lune, frequently re-appearing in .\ugust. They feed upon the upper sur- 
*'ace of tVie leaf, leaving the skeleton to mark the devastation wrought. 
The best remedy is probably wh-te hell-hore powder mixed in water 
and sprinkled on the.ii. For the r4.se bug. hand-picking is the only ef- 
fectual remedy. If the aphis or green /}y attack the roses, an applica- 
tion of tobacco water will usually mrike an end of them, -fr finely-pow- 
dered tobacco may be sprinkled upon them from an old pepper-box. 
Mildew. — This diseast generally caused by extremes of heat and 
cold, and by a long contmnance of damp, cloudy weather. The best 
remedies are siilphur and soot; one- of these should he applied the 
moment the disease makes its appearance. It is a good plan, in Ih-s case, 
to previ'iusl .- sprinkle the plants with water, so that the substance ap- 
plied will adhere. 
» 
ROSES IN POTS. 
The Tea. Bour'jon nnd Chin-i K'os.s sh'Mi'd be sc'? -t^ 'd for growin-j in 
pots in the house, for here a succession of bloom is usually reuii ed. cw 
persons grow roses in pots, except for the purpose of having them 
bloom in winter ; therefore our remarks will be ehieflv directed to this 
end. The soil should be composed of two-thirds light, mellow loam 
and one-third well -decomposed manure. It is well to place a few 
pieces of bmken crock or some coarse gravel in the bottom of the pot to 
secure good drainage. When potted, press the soil down firmly, 
leaving a space at the top of the pot to receive the water. Water 
thoroughlj' and frequently during warm, summer weather, but in fall 
and winter be careful not to allow the soil to become sour on account 
of too much moisture. Pinch off all buds as soon as they appear 
during summer, that the plant may gain strength for its winter flower- 
ing. When winter arrives, allow all buds to remain, and give ail 
the sunliffitt passibfe. The plants should be kept at a temperature ot 
as near 60 degrees Fahrenheit as possible. Sponge or sprinkle the 
foliage frequently to prevent red spider; in shori;, use every effort to 
keep the plants growing, as this is the secret of getting them to bloom. 
