THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH ABOUT GARDEN ROSES 
T he home gardener who wishes to enjoy 
good Roses frequently hesitates to plant 
them because some time or other he has 
heard or read that there are mysteries and 
secrets connected with Rose-culture that only 
the experienced gardener knows about. Those 
of you receiving this Little Book About Roses 
for the first time may still have the idea that 
gardening with Roses is a back-breaking job 
from the very beginning. You may have read 
how important it is to “excavate” and prepare 
a Rose-bed according to a lot of half-baked 
theories that have been handed down from 
one writer to another. Frankly, we are terribly 
annoyed when we ourselves read and hear the 
many words of caution addressed to amateur 
Rose-lovers, when in the bottom of our hearts 
we know and have demonstrated that the 
culture of Roses is no more difficult than that 
of any other flower. True enough, all garden 
flowers need some care and attention, perhaps 
certain ones a little more than others, but in 
the end your efforts are amply repaid. 
If you have a small or large piece of ground 
on which good crops of annuals, perennials, or 
vegetables have been grown in the past, you 
can positively enjoy the finest blooms from 
Peterson Roses without a whole lot of pre¬ 
liminary experience and preparation. We have 
always contended that 90 per cent of your 
success with garden Roses depends upon the 
health, vigor, and productiveness of the plants 
you start with. You may say that this holds 
true with all nursery plants. Let us assure you 
that it is particularly true with Rose plants 
because of many growth factors that only the 
nurseryman understands. This also means 
that the named varieties, especially Hybrid 
Teas or Everblooming Roses, must possess 
known ancestry and heritage that insures easy 
blooming qualities in every plant. It is abso¬ 
lutely correct to say that the majority of 
failures and disappointments with Roses are 
due not only to a beginning made with inferior 
plants but also to the improper selection of 
varieties innocently made by the inexperienced 
planter. In other words, there are many va¬ 
rieties in American commerce that are hard to 
grow because they are not adapted to our soil 
and climate conditions. The only mystery, 
therefore, is to plant varieties that will grow 
easily and bloom abundantly without too much 
care. Right here is where the Rose specialist 
can be of greatest assistance. When browsing 
through the special offers and varieties in this 
catalog, kindly bear in mind that they have 
been selected for many years and only after 
careful experimentation and deliberation. 
We can not conceive of a garden, no matter 
how small, in which there is not room for at 
least a half dozen or a dozen Roses. They 
need not always be planted in separate beds, 
but you will find most delightful effects are 
obtained when planting them in little nooks 
and corners in front of shrubbery where the 
Roses will get about a half day’s sunshine. One 
of our constant ambitions has always been to 
help the owner of a modest garden enjoy good 
Roses. We can also add that you will find 
Peterson Roses planted by the hundreds and 
thousands in large estates in many parts of 
the country. 
It has never been our custom to make 
apologies for the prices asked for our plants. 
Considering the size, quality, and health of the 
plants we send you, you will actually find them 
less expensive in the end when you begin to 
reap the harvest of lovely Rose blooms. It has 
been our experience that of all plants produced 
in nurseries, there are none that vary so 
greatly in size and quality as Rose plants. 
And for that reason it is always hard for the 
unsuspecting buyer to understand the reason 
for variation in Rose prices. 
THE TIME TO PLANT DORMANT ROSES 
If it is convenient for you to plant Roses in the fall, by all means do so because it is 
your fall-planted Roses that will give you the best results with the least amount of 
effort. Years ago it was our custom to enumerate the advantages of the fall planting 
of Roses, but now it has become good sound practice on the part of our most experienced 
and professional Rose-planters. On the other hand, there will always be more Roses 
planted in the spring because of the general garden awakening at that time. But no 
matter whether you wish to plant in fall or spring, we are always ready to supply you 
with the kind of plants that will live and bloom. 
3 
