GeAsi IF OeRIN IA RR O:.S Es... I.NsC.. 
Notes on Rose Culture Applicable 
to The Temperate Regions of 
The Pacific Coast 
NOTES ON ROSE 
Soil Conditions and Planting 
Roses flourish in a wide range of soils—from sandy 
loam to heavy gumbo or adobe—but the ideal is a heavy, 
modified adobe with good drainage. 
Roses are heavy feeders, therefore, light soils must be 
built up with barn-yard manure, bean straw or perhaps 
the addition of heavy soil in the bottom of the hole when 
planting. This will furnish the plant food and make a 
light soil more retentive of water. 
Heavy soils require the same treatment—but for a dif- 
ferent reason. These soils must be modified, made mel- 
low and open to furnish good drainage which is essential. 
The best results are obtained by preparing the whole 
rose-bed to a depth of 18 inches in advance of planting, 
leaving a layer of bean straw topped with a moderate 
dressing of barn-yard manure underlying the entire bed. 
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BEAN STRAW 
— eee ee ee os ee 

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Planiing 
When planting in unprepared ground, a 16-inch circular 
hole is dug to a depth of about 18 inches, in the bottom 
of which bean straw topped with well-rotted manure is 
packed to form a 4-inch plug in ordinary soils and a 6- 
inch plug in very dense (heavy) soils. Enough soil is 
then packed back into the hole and left in the form of a 
cone to make possible the even spreading of the roois 
downward on a 45-degree slope. 
Planting proceeds, refilling the hole with soil to fully 
cover and protect the roots. The plant is now gradually 
lifted, filling and tamping all the while to bring the apex 
of the root system to a level which must never be more 
than three inches below the finished ground surface in 
light soil and two inches in heavy soil. The “Apex” is 
the point where the main root system emanates from 
the trunk. 
An old pick handle is a most satisfactory tamp. Do 
not be afraid of packing the soil too hard. You will be 
the loser if any air is left in contact with the roots, for the 
plant will remain inactive until these voids are filled. 
39 
