March, 1919 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
83 
Pansies are sown in July the year 
previous and wintered over in cold 
frames. When in bloom they are 
lifted with a trowel and set into 
the larger flats 4 dozen to a flat. 
They bring 30 cents per dozen. 
Of late year’s there has grown 
to be quite a demand for head let- 
tuce plants. The seed is sown the 
middle of March and as soon as 
the seedlings have 4 or 5 leaves, 
they are set into the smaller flats 
4 dozen to a flat and bring 10 cents 
per dozen. May King is grown 
mostly. 
The greater part of our plants 
are sold to the grocer, though we 
also have a good trade at home, as 
small gardens are numerous in our 
vicinity. Occasionally when we 
have a large supply we advertise 
in the daily papers. 
Roses for Lawn and Border. 
There is a rose for every pur- 
pose, say flower specialists of the 
U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
Selection and breeding have been 
practiced with this best loved of 
all flowers for ages, and have re- 
sulted in the development of a 
multitude of rose varieties, some 
of which are adapted to use un- 
der almost any conceivable con- 
ditions. By familiarizing him- 
self before the planting seasons in 
fall and spring with the different 
types of roses and the purposes 
for which they are especially 
suited, the rose gardener in city 
or country may add greatly to the 
attractiveness of his home. 
Roses for use on lawns and 
along borders must have habits of 
growth and foliage which fit them 
particularly for mass effects. 
Foliage, in fact, is more to be de- 
sired under such conditions than 
fine flowers, since it is a featui'e 
during the whole growing season, 
while the flowers may cover a pe- 
riod less than a fortnight in 
length. When suitable sorts are 
chosen, roses are quite as appro- 
priate and effective for use in re- 
lief planting about the ground 
line of buildings or in masses up- 
on the lawn or along borders as 
other ornamental shrubs. For 
such use, however, they must be 
hardy and moderately free in 
growth, and must possess foliage 
reasonably disease-resistant and 
free from insect attack. 
One of the roses which has been 
found admirable for this land- 
scape planting, is the Rugosa or 
Wrinkled Japanese rose. It is 
hardy in the north, succeeds well 
in the south, and thrives within 
reach of ocean spray. It blooms 
nearly all summer. Both red and 
white varieties are available. The 
Carolina rose, also suitable for 
lawn use, thrives in the entire ter- 
ritory east of the Mississippi river 
succeeding especially well in 
moist places. Both these vai’ie- 
ties are relatively tall, reaching a 
height of from 6 to 8 feet. The 
Rosa lucida, a wild type native 
from Pennsylvania north, is on 
the other hand, desirable for a 
low ground cover 2 to 3 feet high. 
Tt grows, well at the seaside and 
under other adverse conditions. 
The prairie rose has a wider range 
than any of the other roses named 
above, being native from Canada 
to Florida and west to Wiscon- 
sin, Nebraska and Texas. It is a 
single variety and thrives under 
adverse conditions. Among the 
other roses mentioned in the bul- 
letin as useful for landscape 
planting are the Arkansas rose, 
Sweet Brier, Rosa eglanteria or 
Rosa lutea, Dwarf Polyantha, 
Cabbage rose, and the Damask 
rose. 
Soils axd Fertilizers. 
The roses classed in the lawn 
and border group are adapted to 
a wide range of soil conditions, 
and may be counted on to such- 
ceed in any but extremely heavy 
or very sandy soils. Many of 
them will do well even on such 
soil types. The principal essen- 
tials are thorough drainage and a 
plentiful supply of organic mat- 
ter, with a reasonably constant 
water supply during the growing 
season. In general a soil capa- 
ble of growing good garden or 
field crops is suitable for roses. 
The deeper the soil and the better 
the preparation at the beginning, 
the more satisfactory will be the 
results. 
The best fertilizer for roses is 
rotted cow manure, though any 
other well-rotted manure or good 
compost will serve the purpose. 
Fresh manure, especially horse 
manure, should be avoided, 
though if no other manure is 
available it may be used with ex- 
treme care. It must not come in 
direct contact with the roots when 
planting nor should any quantity 
of it be used immediately beneath 
the plant to cut off direct connec- 
tion with the subsoil and the wa- 
ter supply. Of the commercial 
fertilizers, ground bone is excel- 
lent as additional food. It will 
not. however, answer as a substi- 
tute for an abundant supply of 
compost. Cottonseed meal, where 
it is cheap enough, may be used as 
a substitute for bone. Wood ashes 
are sometimes a helpful addition 
or, when they are not available, 
lime and muriate of potash may 
be used and should be applied 
separately. 
Start early celery, cabbage and 
cauliflower early this month. 
