Qeorge H. 'Peterson, Inc., Fair Pawn, A Jew Jersey 
3 
Planting Seasons for Dormant Roses 
The much-debated question of “Fall versus Spring planting of Roses” will go on as 
long as there are Roses planted. We have continually advocated fall planting in most 
parts of the country, provided it is convenient for you. During October and November, 
stocks in all varieties are complete and are freshly dug a few hours before shipping. 
The plants will become established in your garden and be ready to go ahead in the 
spring to produce a bumper crop of Roses in June. There is more root-action than one 
would imagine going on in late winter and very early spring before planting is possible, 
and for the past few years there have been just as many pleasant, balmy days for plant¬ 
ing during October and November as in March and April. Since all Peterson Roses have 
been grown in the nursery row for three years, they are especially hardy, so there is no 
shock when they are transplanted during autumn. 
There seems to be no doubt that, for the average planter, spring is the logically accepted 
planting season, not only for Roses but for nursery materials in general. It will probably 
remain so because our very temperaments fall and rise in spirit at the advent of totally 
different seasons. The most important step in planting dormant Roses in spring is to 
set them out very early so they will become established before warm weather arrives. 
But whether you plant Roses in fall or spring, always remember that the House of Peterson 
is better equipped than ever to send you plants of the highest quality. 
The Sizes We Offer 
NO. 1 GRADE AND EXTRA GRADE 
Mainly for the benefit of new and prospective customers, we wish to explain that our 
No. 1 Grade is the size the general nurseryman sells as his best plants. Our Extra Grade 
denotes those plants having the greatest number of strong canes and branches and the 
heaviest root-systems. Naturally, the Extra-Grade plants with this large root-system 
will produce more Roses the first year and thereby give the effect of an established Rose- 
garden. The quality and age of both sizes are the same. We emphasize the fact that our 
small-size plants are never sold through regular retail channels. 
This careful method of grading assures you of getting plants uniform in size; it removes 
the element of chance so you do not have to depend on luck to get the very best Roses 
obtainable. It is the only fair and honest way to sell Roses, even though some of our 
friendly competitors would have you believe that “run-of-the-row” plants are “just as 
good.” There must be a good reason why it is customary for our biggest wholesale 
Rose-growers to offer three sizes, according to rules set up by the American Association 
of Nurserymen. Most of you have bought trees and other nursery stock in the past and 
know that the size and shape of trees in the same row varies considerably so that a pro¬ 
portionate charge is made. The finest specimen trees and shrubs may well be compared 
to Peterson Extra-Grade Roses. 
The Stock We Send Out 
Our Rose plants are all grown in the open field. The seeds of Rosa multiflora japonica 
are first sown and the following year the largest seedlings are planted in the nursery row. 
Upon this strong and vigorous seedling understock we then bud (graft) in midsummer the 
many cultivated varieties. These newly budded plants remain in the field over the winter 
and are then dug and offered for sale during late autumn and early spring of the following 
years. It will thus be understood they have completed three years of nursery life. This 
class of stock cannot in any way be compared to the small greenhouse pot-grown Roses 
and discarded bench Roses which may well be sold at but a fraction of our cost of 
production. 
So there is no mystery in what makes Peterson Roses different—better. It is simply 
the attention we pay year in and year out to the hundred and one details which the 
average nurseryman cannot, or will not, give to his Roses. 
We know there are disappointments with newly planted Roses because they have 
been improperly handled on their way to the consumer. It is our opinion that there has 
not yet been any successful method devised whereby dormant plants may be merchan¬ 
dised as, for example, packaged goods on store shelves. On the other hand, distance is 
no barrier to the delivery of fresh-packed Roses provided you order them serit direct 
from the grower 
