394 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1898. 
‘Horticulture. 
ROSE CULTURE. 
Ar the monthly meeting of the Gympie Horticultural Society held on Sth 
March, Mr. W. G. Ambrose read the following paper on— 
ROSE CULTURE. 
As this paper is written by an amateur in horticulture, it will no doubt 
cause discussion among you, which is principally the object for which it is now 
placed before you, so that both myself and others may benefit by your 
criticism. 
The progress of horticulture and floriculture in Queensland, and especially 
in our own district, since the formation of horticultural societies, is to be 
seen on every hand, and also through the assistance of the Department of 
Agriculture by sending to members free copies of the Queensland Agricultural 
Journal and introducing new and choice seeds and plants. But, they should 
go further and endow horticultural societies, no matter how small their 
membership, as by so doing it would place them in a position to show more 
frequently, and increase the capabilities of their members to encourage the 
various committees in their labours. My experience in this district is varied, 
owing to the changeable seasons, which are seldom to be relied on. 
The only item to treat on in this paper is one which I have given the most 
attention to, and hence have the most knowledge of, and that is the “ Queen 
of Flowers,” the Rose. The greatest difficulty is to find the kind to grow. 
The best roses for garden decorations or for cut flowers seldom do for show 
purposes, but the best and most reliable kinds will take up only the same 
amount of room in your garden, and require only the same attention as 
<ommon or inferior varieties. 
The rose is about the most useful plant that can be found in any garden. 
The variety of colours, the quantity of blooms that the plants produce, and its 
delicious perfume, place it above all others. 
That there is a growing demand for roses cannot be doubted, but the 
amateur should be very careful in the manner in which he attempts the planting 
of roses when he receives them from the nursery. 
The rose requires a good heavy loamy soil—in fact, I have not yet had 
ground too heavy for them nor too much clay. Do not place them in clay only, 
but mix clay with good loamy soil and very old manure. 
‘When planting see that the roots are well spread, and then cover the roots 
with soil and press as firmly as possible; the most failures with their cultivation 
arise from loose planting and using fresh stable manure, which is fatal to the 
rose. I have heard of some planting in a bed of new manure saying, “1’ll make 
that fellow grow,” but to their sorrow the reverse hasalways happened. Better, 
much better, plant your rose without manure than do this, also strongly avoid 
any manure that has sawdust mixed with it. I can speak with experience that 
sawdust makes the ground too loose and sour, and also encourages white ants 
around the roots. The rose will take any amount of manure, after the first 
year of planting, when thoroughly decomposed, or, better still, give it to them 
in a liquid state, with a good mulch around the plants to keep the ground 
moist, and then when watering the plants it will the sooner penetrate to its 
roots and gradually work the manure down. Artificial manures are in some 
cases good, but, if the supply is not continually given, the plants die back, and 
even at the best it seems to put false life into them. Bone dustis really good, 
as the plants are being continually fed as the bone decomposes, and ensure its 
freedom from seed of weeds and grass. ; 
