10 
CLOVERSET FLOWER FARM, KANSAS CITY 
Soil always too wet is just as fatal to good, vigorous growth as soil too dry. 
Therefore, proper watering is a very difficult condition to control and is the 
main reason for many failures in growing Roses and other plants. 
To water properly, run a stream of water about the size of a lead pencil 
into the bed all day or all night from a hose without nozzle. The slow flow 
of water will be thoroughly absorbed and the roots well soaked. For large 
beds move the hose from place to place until all plants have been thor¬ 
oughly watered. Do this once or twice a week during the growing and 
blooming season. The time to water must be left entirely to the judgment 
of the gardener. Since the plants cannot stand soil that is always soggy and 
cannot do well in soil that is too dry, digging in the bed to find out the real 
condition as to moisture seems to be the only way to determine when to 
water. During the excessive rains of last spring our Roses were too wet 
and were a great disappointment to us, although there was nothing we 
could do about it. When the rains ceased and sunshine again appeared 
they recovered and the finest Roses we ever grew were those of last June. 
Never water the leaves of your Roses, as wet leaves are sure to bring dis¬ 
ease to them. 
As soon after watering as the soil becomes dry enough to cultivate, a thor¬ 
ough cultivation should be given to provide a dust mulch and prevent too 
rapid drying out. Never cultivate over one inch deep as the feeder roots are 
near the top of the soil, and deep cultivation will surely destroy them and 
greatly injure the plant. Or a mulch may be provided in which cultivation 
will not be necessary. Peat Moss or Cow Manure make good mulches. We 
prefer Cow Manure which, in addition to being a good mulch, also carries 
great fertilizer values. 
Once each month your Roses should be fed 2 l A pounds of Cloverset Rose 
Grower Fertilizer or our Cloverset Blood and Bone for each dozen plants, 
scattering it on the ground under the plants and cultivating it into the soil, 
or it may be dissolved in water and used as a liquid manure. (All materials 
necessary can be purchased from us). These instructions, if followed care¬ 
fully, will result in good Roses from May 20th until heavy frost. 
NOTE 
Besides Roses growing and blooming in our Cloverset Containers, we offer small 
shrubs, perennials, vines and fruit trees all growing, and in proper season in full 
bloom, in these containers enabling you to buy them any time during the summer. 
