20 
Reeser, Seedsman and Florist, 
S GOLD among the preclouB met¬ 
als, and as the diamond compared 
with other gems, so Is the Rose in 
its supremacy of loveliness among the 
flowers. Poets of all ages have sung of 
its regent beauty, and by universal con¬ 
sent it has been crowned Queen of the 
} loral Elingdom. Roses are the fit 
adornment of happy homes. They are 
alike the solace of the lowly and the 
delight of the affluent. Among all 
classes and conditions of people there 
is a cordial appreciation of their 
charms. One sense is captivated by 
their delicate shades of color and grace 
of form, while by another is enjoyed their exquisite fragrance. Roses add materi¬ 
ally to the attractiveness of any dwelling, whether it be a stately mansion or an 
humble cottage. There is little danger of having them In too great profusion or 
variety. 
way to secure a succession of fine bloom is to 
so prepare and locate your Rose bed that the 
plants cannot fail to send up these strong 
root growths. A word about location: Roses 
love the sun. Give your bed a location where 
old Sol. can smile all day long. Never place 
your Rose bed under large trees nor near 
them, for the strong roots of the trees will 
seek the newly prepared soil and leave your 
Roses to eke a half-starved existence. 
You can also encourage the throwing up 
of root suckers by applying old rotten cow 
manure as a mulch in Summer, spread evenly 
over the bed to the depth of an inch or more, 
besides stimulating growth. This will main¬ 
tain an equable temperature for the roots dur¬ 
ing the hottest weather. 
Most important of all is the proper prep¬ 
aration of the soil. Roses will grow in any 
ordinary soil, but they are particularly fond 
of yellow elay, when mixed with natural soil. 
To this add a good proportion of old well rot¬ 
ted cow manure or ground bone. The bed 
should be dug to the depth of sixteen or 
eighteen inches, and the whole thoroughly 
mixed and stirred together before planting. 
Never use fresh manure, for it is an injury 
rather than a benefit. Use in its place, if the decomposed quality is not at hand, a 
good sprinkling of bone dust or flour. 
Let the surface of your bed be level with the surrounding ground. If elevated, 
the tendency is to dry out too fast. If depressed, they become sink holes for the 
Summer rains. For a few weeks after planting, keep the surface soil highly stirred 
by shallow hoelngs. 
Things not to,do: Don’t plant Petunias, Geraniums, Allysum, or other Sum¬ 
mer bedders of strong growth among your Roses. They are positively harmful; 
bnt Gladioli, Lilies, Tigridas, and other Summer bulbs add grace to the bed, without 
injuring the Roses in the least. 
As to arrangement of varieties, mass your colors, and use several colors, and 
use several of one variety, instead of one of a kind. Suppose you are planting fifty 
Roses, get twelve white, twelve yellow, twelve pink, twelve Roses in odd shades. 
When the selection is left to me I will send you varieties that have some trait or 
character in common, producing a harmonious effect, besides enabling you to ar- 
arrange corsage bunch bouquets, using only one color in each. I have no desire to 
dictate, but only to suggest what will add beauty to your Rose garden. 
ROSES IN POTS. 
Cultural Directions for the Rose. 
. , , Our interest in the plants I seii by no means cea- 
^'^'''^ses when they leave my premises, nor even when 
advised of their safe receipt by the purchaser. It is evident that their success is 
greatly to my profit, because each successful planting is a standing commendation 
to my House, that is lasting in its good effects, and I escape the possibility of an ac¬ 
cusation of having applied inferior stock. To insure as far as possible this success, 
so much coveted hoth hy my patrons and myself, I give in the proper places brief 
cultural directions for most classes of plants. Within the limits of a Guide like 
this it is of course impossible to go fully into details, but I think the information 
given will enable the reader to make a fair start on the straight road to success. 
As the Rose occupies such an Important place in my huslness, it seems proper to 
begin with directions for Us cultivation. If the determination to succeed seems to 
entail the expenditure of considerable labor and time in the thorough preparation of 
the soil, let the fact be borne in mind that you are now laying the foundation for last¬ 
ing results, results which will be pleasing to all who behold them. But in practice. 
Rose growing is very easy, and to bring the Rose to a high degree of perfection, it is 
only necessary to bestow a little more labor than is ordinarily given. 
ROSES IN OPEN GROUND. 
Roses, to be of perennial beauty, should be first propagated from vigorous, 
healthy stock. To this point I give my careful attention. Second: to be of perma¬ 
nent value they must be on their own roots. Intelligent amateurs object seriously 
to buying budded or grafted Roses, and well they may, for the stocks are a source of 
serious annoyance, as the suckers, if not continually removed, are liable to sap the 
life and take the place of your Improved variety. Roses on their own roots con¬ 
stantly renew themselves by sending up strong sucker shoots, and these should be 
encouraged by all means at hand. 
One thing that I wish to Impress on the minds of my customers, and that is, 
that all my Boies stand on their own feet, and when one of them sends up a new 
shoot from below the surface. It is the forerunner of several beautiful fiowers. The 
The Ever-Blooming Roses are the Best for House Cul¬ 
ture in Pots, because they bloom quicker and more continuously than any of 
the others, and their style and habit of growth is more bushy and better adapted to 
the purpose. They can be kept nicely with other growing plants, and with proper 
attention to their requirements, will bloom freely. Persons who order Roses for 
house culture in pots, can select any varieties they choose, or if they prefer to name 
the color they like best, we will select for them, and send those sorts most likely to 
give satisfaction. Each kind will be labelled the same as if named in the order. 
Pots. Do not use too large pots—if possible, not more than three or four 
inch. The rule is one size larger than the plants have been grown in. The smaller 
the pot—provided, of course, it is large enough to contain the plant—the quicker 
and stronger the plant will start. It is very difficult to get a small plant to live and 
grow in a large pot. A rose will not bloom much until the pot is well filled with 
roots, therefore, small pots facilitate quick bloom. If the pots arc old, they should 
first be thoroughly washed. If new, they should be soaked in water, otherwise they 
will absorb the moisture from the plant. 
Soil. Take good, rich soil, mellow and friable. That made from old, decom¬ 
posed sods is best. If manure is used, it should be old and thoroughly composted. 
Fresh manure il Injurions. In some places the soil is liable to be infested with the 
eggs or germs of injurious Insects, such as small white worms, Ac. These can be 
effectually destroyed by thoroughly heating or roasting the prepared earth in a pan 
over a hot fire before using it for potting. 
How to Pot. Put some bits of broken crockery, charcoal, or other similar 
material, in the bottom of each pot to facilitate drainage, then enough fine earth to 
raise the plant to a proper height. It should not be much deeper than it was before. 
Next put in the plant and spread out its roots as near their natural position as pos¬ 
sible, then fill in fine earth and press firmly down with the hand. When done, the 
pot should not be quite full. A little space is needed lor water. 
Water, when first potted, water thoroughly—and il the sun is strong, shade 
lor a few days—then give lull light and air, though the plant should not be allowed 
to wither for want of water. The earth should get moderately dry before watering 
again. Too much water is worse than not enough. Very little water ii needed until 
the plant starts to grow. 
Re-potting. If the plant should get too large lor the pot, it can be shifted 
