The Culture of the Rose 
Roses are easy to grow provided you begin with 
the right kind of plants. Peterson Roses have 
made it possible for the beginner as well as the 
experienced amateur to achieve success. 
Location of Site. The ideal site for a Hybrid Tea Rose- 
garden is one that does not receive the early morning sun— 
a location sheltered if possible from high winds, but where 
the plants will get enough air and sunlight. Roses here in 
the East like partial shade, especially during July and 
August when our climate is usually hot and dry. When 
one resides in a city or town the choice of location for a 
Rose-bed is often quite limited, and yet many thousands 
of Rose-culturists so situated are very successful. 
Soil. Any good garden soil which will produce vegetables 
or good crops of annuals and perennials will also grow 
Roses. The hardy understock upon which all of our 
Roses are budded does well in both heavy clay soils and 
in the lighter sandy loams. 
Preparation of Beds. Although, as we have just said, 
good Roses can be grown in an average garden soil, where 
the best obtainable Roses are desired the beds should be 
trenched to the depth of 15 to 18 inches. Try to get some 
old cow-manure and mix one part of this with about three 
parts of soil. Allow to settle before planting. 
It is only when you are forced to plant in a low, wet 
situation that drainage is important. In that case you 
should simply remove about a foot of soil and place cinders 
or stones in the bottom of the bed. 
While we do not wish to belittle the idea that soil- 
preparation is important, we do know that many beginners 
who want to plant Roses imagine that there is some difficult 
and secret soil-mixture that Rose plants demand, and this 
is decidedly not the case. The feeding, cultivating, spray¬ 
ing or dusting, watering, and pruning of established plants 
is more important than a lot of over-preparation and over¬ 
fertilizing before the plants are set. 
Manures and Fertilizers. With so many new and rec¬ 
ommended fertilizers of all descriptions being offered to 
plant-lovers, it is no wonder that some of us are rather 
confused on this subject. At the same time, there are no 
hard-and-fast rules for fertilizing Roses, so that many of 
the new combinations of fertilizing materials have their 
value in Rose-feeding provided you follow the directions 
of the manufacturer. 
The best and safest way to feed Roses is to use cow- 
manure in some form. If it is not obtainable as well- 
rotted barn-manure, then it can be obtained in a dry con¬ 
centrated form by the bag. Because Roses want their 
food right down at the roots and within a relatively small 
feeding area there is nothing better than liquid manure. 
This solution is very easily prepared by soaking either 
fresh or dry manure in water at the rate of approximately 
one pound to every gallon of water. Frequent applications 
about a week apart, using a half gallon to a plant during 
the active growing season in June, July, and August is 
recommended. 
A good grade of raw, coarse bonemeal may be mixed 
with the soil when Roses are planted. It can also be fed 
once or twice a season, about a pint to an established plant. 
Be sure your bonemeal is a reliable brand. 
Hardwood ashes not only act as a good fertilizer high in 
potash content, but will also sweeten the soil. This may 
be applied liberally two or three times during the growing 
season. 
Air-slaked lime is good to apply in moderation on an old 
bed where the soil may be acid. It is not a plant-food, but 
will make other fertilizing elements available for plant 
consumption. Never mix lime and bonemeal within a 
short period. 
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