HOW TO GROW ROSES 
PREPARATION OF SOIL. Soil should be 
prepared a month or two before the 
roses are to be planted. Dig soil to a 
depth of two feet. If drainage is poor, 
put six inches of sharp sand, fine gravel 
or cinders at the bottom of the bed. This 
will serve to carry away excess mois¬ 
ture. Fill the bed to the level of the 
surrounding area with a mixture of 
good loam and 10 per cent well-rotted 
manure. 
PLANTING. When your rosebushes are 
received from the nursery, unpack them 
carefully. Cut away any dead or 
bruised roots or branches. When you 
are planting, put the roses in a bucket 
of water and take them out only as you 
are ready to put them in the soil. Do 
not expose them to drying winds. 
Dig the hole large enough to more than 
accommodate the roots without cramp¬ 
ing them. Mound up the soil slightly in 
the bottom of the hole so the bush will 
set firmly on the earth with the roots 
slanting downward and outward. Fill 
in the earth about two-thirds of the way 
tramping it down firmly, then pour in 5 
or 10 gallons of water. When the water 
has soaked away, fill in with soil to the 
top of the hole but do not tramp. In a 
day or two, when the soil is settled fill 
in with more soil if necessary to level 
the bed. If any growth should start from 
below the bud union it should be cut off 
cleanly close up to the root. 
WATERING. During periods when the 
natural rainfall is not sufficient to keep 
the ground moist, roses should be given 
a thorough soaking at least once a 
week. In hot, dry weather more frequent 
watering may be necessary. The best 
method of watering is by means of 
trenches around the plants into which 
water may run slowly so that it will 
soak deeply into the soil. 
Within a day or two after each irriga¬ 
tion, the surface of the soil should be 
stirred to avoid baking or cracking. 
Where the soil is stiff and hard, it is 
advisable to supply a mulch of peat 
moss or decayed vegetable matter. 
FERTILIZATION. A good mulching of 
fairly fresh cow manure while the roses 
are dormant is most beneficial. We 
recommend GAVIOTA as a good com¬ 
mercial fertilizer for roses. 
PRUNING. Proper pruning of roses can 
only be learned by actual experience. 
Most gardeners fail to prune enough. 
Heavy pruning produces larger blooms. 
The idea in pruning is to encourage 
vigorous new growth and to remove 
weak and worthless branches. Roses 
should be pruned back to six or eight 
inches when planted. At the end of the 
first growing season each of these main 
branches should have one or two new 
branches. Cut these new branches back 
to about six inches; removing any weak 
growth and also any branches that 
crowd or grow in to the center of the 
bush. 
December 15 to March 1 is the best sea¬ 
son for dormant pruning. A light prun¬ 
ing may be given in summer when 
weak and interfering branches should 
be removed and the bushes cut back 
slightly. 
With climbers the framework branches 
should be trimmed to three or tour and 
these trained up against the wall or 
trellis fanwise. The first two seasons 
these should be cut back at least one- 
third. Most climbers are benefited by a 
fairly heavy pruning every three or 
four years. 
PESTS. In the early spring, before mil¬ 
dew and blackspot are apparent, con¬ 
trol them by dusting plants every week 
or ten days with a dust made from nine 
parts dusting sulphur and one part 
arsenate of lead. In cool climates spray¬ 
ing with Volck Oil or a similar oil emul¬ 
sion used according to the manufac¬ 
turer's directions will be found effective 
in controlling mildew. Bordelo, a new 
fungicide, used alone or in combina¬ 
tion with Nursery Volck has also been 
found most effective in controlling mil¬ 
dew. In changing from sulphur to oil 
sprays or vice versa, allow an interval 
of three or four weeks to intervene as a 
"Roeding's Quality", 
No. I Grade Rosebush 
The same bush shown above, 
properly pruned for planting 
combination of the two control methods 
may result in burned foliage. To con¬ 
trol plant lice or aphis, spray with a 
pyrethrum or nicotine spray as often as 
may be necessary to eradicate the in¬ 
festation. 
When planting a rose garden the best 
effect is obtained by platiting three or 
more bushes of a variety. The concentra¬ 
tion of color gives character to your 
garden. 
ip'H 
