HOW I FEED MY ROSES 
REV. SPENCER S. SULLIGER, D. D. 
Hon. Vice-President American Rose Society 
A Systematic Scheme of Applying Fertilizers that Brings Big Blooms 
and Bright Foliage—Some Conclusions of a Student of Roses on the 
Pacific Coast that Hold Valuable Suggestion for Rosarians Everywhere 
r j * 11 E secret of economy and success in feeding the Rose is, 
ffliflW course ( as ' n t * le case an Y P' ant ) to supply by 
fllff'ii fertilizing whatever it needs for healthy growth which 
Tlr &-Y the so ji cannot naturally furnish. 
Without being equipped to analyze soil, or accurately deter¬ 
mine its lack, I was, like the vast majority of amateur Rose 
growers, taking long chances in attempting to give the Rose 
that which the soil could not give it. Years of experience 
gradually led to the conclusion that the mixing of a number of 
different fertilizers into a combination fertilizer—a sort of a 
shot-gun mixture—was neither economical nor accurate, so 
during the season of 1923 1 weighed and measured the fertilizers 
put on my Rose beds, and never but once put two fertilizers 
on at the same time. Quantity, quality, and color of bloom, 
foliage, and growth of the bush were also carefully observed and 
recorded. 
Roses, like people, need a change in diet, and the mere pres¬ 
ence of a rose-food component in a fertilizer is not a certain 
guide. For instance, potash in a combined fertilizer failed to 
give as good results in some cases as potash in wood ashes—the 
Rose evidently needing not only potash, but potash as combined 
or found in hardwood ashes. This finds its analogy in the fact 
that a chemical component of a certain food does not fully 
determine its value in feeding people. For example, the same 
amount of iodine needed by the human system is best furnished 
by eating different foodstuffs that contain iodine, rather than 
by eating just one. And similarly, Roses do better by having a 
variety of diet, even if practically the same chemical elements 
are thus to be supplied. 
March iq. Agricultural sulphur was scattered over the whole surface of each 
Rose bed and lightly raked in. 
April 5. The first meal of nitrate of soda solution was given. This solution 
is made by dissolving four ounces of nitrate of soda crystals in two gallons 
of water. 1 use two buckets, so that one bucket of the solution is in the 
making while the other is being used. 1 have a small sprinkling can that holds 
just one quart. This amount is sprinkled over the square that surrounds each 
Rose, thus giving to each bush one-fourth ounce of the nitrate. This is a 
full dose, 1 know, but if it is put on just before or just after a good rain, or 
is followed by a good soaking from a whirl sprinkler, it is not too much. 
Though a little more trouble, 1 prefer to wet the ground by using the whirl 
sprinkler just before putting on the nitrate solution and again just after. Of 
course, care must be taken not to get the nitrate solution on the foliage. 
April 16. Two ounces of superphosphate was scattered over the square 
around each Rose and raked in. 
May q. Gave the second dose of nitrate of soda solution just as on April 5, 
using the whirl sprinkler both before and after putting on. 
June 18. Eight ounces of sheep guano, six ounces of finely ground bonemeal, 
and two ounces of superphosphate were scattered over each square and very 
lightly dug in with the hand digger. Believing fully in feeding the Rose with 
one fertilizer at a time rather than mixing all together, 1 broke this rule only 
on this one occasion, and deliberately, so as not to disturb the surface of 
the bed too frequently during the blooming period in June, and also to get the 
full benefit of the fertilizers for July, August, and later bloom. 
July 10. Used the nitrate of soda solution (following same method of applica¬ 
tion and quantity as before) moistening the soil with the whirl sprinkler before 
and after putting it on. This ended the use of any fertilizer for 1923. 
I he result of this treatment was magnificent bloom and un¬ 
usually large and beautiful green foliage until late in November. 
Aside from keeping the beds free of weeds, my Roses were neither 
cultivated, pruned, nor fertilized until early in March, 1924. 
Then they received their first pruning and fertilizing, to be 
fallowed in early April with the final close pruning. 
U NDOUBTEDLY there are other good methods of using 
fertilizers, but the following simple plan has proved highly 
successful with me in gaining quantity, quality, and color of 
both bloom and foliage, as well as a healthy growth of canes. 
The fertilizers were not weighed each time, but containers were 
used that held just therequircdamount. My Roses are so ar¬ 
ranged that there are only two rows in each bed, placed in this 
fashion: 
xxxxxxxxxx 
xxxxxxxxxx 
With a stick a line was marked through the center from end 
to end; then a line from this center line to the edge of the bed, 
half way between the bushes, thus making a square around each. 
After a bit of practice 1 found myself able to determine the 
squares accurately enough merely by using the eye. Feeding 
then proceeded as follows: 
March 10. Twelve ounces of sheep guano were scattered over each square sur¬ 
rounding each Rose and worked in with a hand digger, but not deep enough 
to disturb the feeding roots of the plant. 
March 1 5. Six ounces (to each square) of very finely ground bonemeal was 
applied in the same manner as the guano. 
T HE dates given above are not arbitrary but must of ne¬ 
cessity vary in different climates and are merely set down 
to show what actually was done during the spring and sum¬ 
mer of 1923. 
1 he Roses got their necessary supply of potash for 1923 
by using hardwood ashes during the winter of 1922-23 up to 
the time of commencing the use of the fertilizers as told 
above. 
A few of the Roses did not need and could not have safely 
assimilated the amount of fertilizer mentioned—such bushes 
received varying applications, but never as much as the regula¬ 
tion amount. 
In 1924 1 plan to use not a single fertilizer used in 1923, save 
the sheep guano. That will be used on only a part of the 
Roses, while some form of dairy fertilizer will be used on the 
others. For the nitrate, phosphate, and potash 1 will use other 
forms than those applied in 1923. Liquid fertilizer will be used 
exclusively during May. In ample time for the season of 
1925, I plan to present through the pages of The Garden 
Magazine a full description of the method and fertilizers em¬ 
ployed in 1924, with the results. 
J'or ‘Dahlia Jjjpoers and ‘Poets 
'T'HROUGH the generosity of Mrs. Charles H. Stout, The Garden Magazine is privileged to announce the offer of a 
$50 cash pri{e to be awarded for a new and original poem on the Dahlia. 
Verse submitted in this competition must he of joyous mood in any lyric form, hut not exceeding six stanzas in length. 
Competition closes October 1st, 1924, and all entries must reach The Garden Magazine not later than that day. 
Contestants may submit any number of entries, with the name and address of the author plainly marked on each one, 
addressing them to the Dahlia Poem Contest, c f 0 Editors of The Garden Magazine, Garden City, N. Y. 
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