154 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
Mahch 1, 1913. 
ROSE PLANTING IN SPRING. 
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most cases this is due to delay until what is 
Although it is undoubtedly best to plant 
roses in autumn, circumstances may prove 
too much for us, and then it behoves us to 
do the best we can in spring. In this con¬ 
nection February and March are the best 
months for transplanting roses grown in 
the open air, but April and the early part 
of May have been found most suitable for 
planting those from pots. 
So much depends upon the preparation of 
soil that any labour in this directi^^n is sure 
to be repaid. It is very essential to have 
the ground suitably moist, so that new roots 
considered a more seasonable date arrives. 
But it must be obvious that the quantity of 
shrivelled and distressed wood we so fre¬ 
quently meet with, more especially upon the 
stronger growers, is a great strain upon the 
roots that have not had time to feed the 
wood with more sap. In the ordinary 
course of autumn planting^ we should cut 
away the top growth of most climbers, and 
I would do the same with most of our 
spring-planted roses at the time of, or very 
voon after, planting. There need be no fear 
the tea-scented section and its hybrids can 
be readily purchased in this form, and if 
planted well below the union of graft and 
stock, are quite equal to any budded plants 
from the open, seeing that nowadays the 
bud and graft are both worked lower than 
was the practice some years ago. 
Even smaller plants than these can be 
obtained. I allude to the small, grafted 
plants that were propagated during the 
past winter, and it is astonishing what a 
display many of these will make during the 
summer. At all events, they will make 
really serviceable plants during the year, 
and will possess the great advantage of an 
abundance of fibrous roots. 
The dwarf polyanthas, now so much used 
for bedding, will be a perfect picture during 
late summer and throughout the whole 
autumn if planted in this way. Bought 
in small pots, they are not expensive in the 
matter of carriage, while most of them may 
A beautiful hybrid tea with soft 
ROSE LA TOSCA. 
rose-pink flowers, of much value for bedding, having 
continuously. 
can be formed quickly, and grow without 
check. A little extra attention is desirable 
in the matter of spreading the roots, and 
placing some soil among them ; in fact, the 
whole operation of planting needs more 
care than would have sufficed under favour¬ 
able conditions in autumn. I believe many 
failures in late spring planting are assisted 
(I will not say caused) by too loose planting. 
There is not the same amount of rain to 
ress the soil that autumn-planted roses 
ave received, and, although we do well by 
keeping the surface soil stirred, it appears 
to me to be best that where the roots are 
the ground should be firmer than is often 
the case for some time with spring.planted 
rcses. If this is not so, why do so many 
of our old-established favourites thrive so 
well ? 
A mistake that I have only too frequentlv 
observed is that of leaving over-much 
growth upon the plants Doubtless, in 
of the same precocious growth among them 
as in established and early autumn-planted 
roses. 
There is a method of spring planting that 
has proved very successful with us, and 
tlmt is the use of small plants from pots, 
oftentimes these can be procured at the 
same price as good ground plants; and, 
even if a little more expensive at first, we 
have a much better and more reliable dis¬ 
play during the first season from planting 
them, and this is a great gain. If we do not 
secure much wood, it is always firm, and in 
the right place, instead of several feet 
away. The roots, too, are ready for imme- ' 
diate occupation of the fresh soil, and, hav- 
mg practically no check, soon make use of 
It. Another advantage lies in the almost 
,^rtain absence of failures to grow, seeing 
the roots are already at home and estab¬ 
lished in the pot soil. Fortunately, all of 
our best and most reliable varieties from 
a good habit, and blooming freely and 
be carefully turned out of the pots, and 
th^ less expense would 'be incurred. One 
point I must impress upon readers is, that, 
being in such tiny pots, the roses must be 
planted in soil that is quite moist. In our 
own case we always carefully water them 
before, or soon after, planting. The m^t 
suitable distances at which to plant de- 
^nds so entirely upon the variety and its 
habit of growth, therefore I must leave that 
to the owner or planter, who should not 
neglect to become acquainted with the 
characteristics of the variety he is handling. 
The filling-in of blanks, discovered at the 
time of pruning, may come under the head- 
iug of these notes and I would merely 
reiterate the need for a little extra care, 
more especially as regards watering, for * 
short time, should the weather he dry, ^ 
the roses will have no far-reaching rents to 
keep them in such a case of necessity. 
Rosaeian. 
