ABOUT FERTILIZER 
There has recently been circulated by an Oregon Professor that ferti- 
lizer should be put under rose plants at planting time—this man evidently 
does not have sufficient power of assimilation or he would realize that in 
all but sandy soil, when we in Oregon have continued rains, there is formed 
Matter placed under the plant, this does not stop further decomposition of 
ting the process by burying some of this material under a readily accessible 
place and instead of waiting for heavy rain to Slowly do the job of sealing 
the top, simply hasten the process by packing it by walking in when wet 
then in early spring dig it up and you will find the soil has turned blue 
from the continued decomposition and stinks from marsh gas, and the 
Sure, the rose will live after this treatment as the rose by nature ‘is 
indomitable but it would do much better under most conditions if it were not 
done this way. Though the man’s egotism who does it this way will not per- 
mit him to admit that possibly he could be wrong. But you are planting my 
plants and I insist that they at least get a break by using my methods. 
I repeat, my planting instructions must be followed without deviation 
or I will not be responsible as under some soil and weather conditions you 
May poison your plants. 
The reason I never Say in any of my writings what fertilizer to use, is 
because I do not recommend fertilizing a rose till it starts to grow the first 
year and then almost any fertilizer wil] Sive results. Each grower has a pet 
brand yet the rose grows for all. 
PLANTING AND PROFESSIONAL GARDENERS 
Again I want to make it clear that I would much rather not sel] where 
my plants are planted by a professional gardner as they know so much about 
the rose that they almost cut off roots so as to make faster planting: although 
in some cases it is plainly moronic dumbness. I have heard all kinds of silly 
reasons for doing so but my reputation for good plants has been made by 
those who do as I say. I know there are lots of honest professional gardners 
but there are also lots of those who know the rose won’t die if roots are 
cut off and so they do it and then the owner comes along and says: ‘““Why 
these plants are no better than those from So-and-So!” It is difficult to make 
a ruling like this but so much harm has been done me in this respect and 
not only by professional gardners but stooges who want to make it appear 
that their old way is best. But again—my good name has been made by the 
small gardener who plants his own according to my instructions and 
does not coil the roots as that is as bad as cutting them off. 
New address after May 1, 1949 
RT 1, BOX 74, SCAPPOOSE, ORE. 
AFTER MAY 1, 1949, | will have moved to my new nursery location on 
Dixie Mountain and will be Rt. 1, Box 74, Scappoose, Ore. 
ORO a 
