GARDENING NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

GARDENING NOTES.

Wovlz for the Week, THE ROSE GARDEN IN OCTOBER. [By Agricola.J This ought to be a busy month with Rose -growers, and very much of the future success of the Rose-garden depends upon the care and attention bestowed upon it now. Robbs, like all beauties, have their host of admirers ; but they also have their enemies, and it ia of the latter we have at this time to think the most. There is, first of all, that little pest of a maggot, which, as the shoots begin to grow and the flowerbuds to develop, makes it appearance. It mostly lays hold of the leair, which it attaches to one of the bud*, and quietly gnaws away at it ; it is thus somewhat hidden from view, and the casual observer i might think there was nothing the matter. The rosarian knows better and is therefore ever on the watch, for even if it gets as far as this attaching- the leaf to the bud, the beauty of the bloom is destroyed. Fortunatoly, before it does this, it shows itself in the leaf, and whenever one sees the leaves at the. top of the shoot looking rather confused, he may be sure the enemy is there ; to get rid of him iB, of course, the primary object, and tlr \ can only be done by the unpleasant prc.Mss of hand-picking and destroying them, and therefore it is well to employ some little fingers to go over the shoots every day for some time. I prefer the little fingers should be those of a girl, as boys are rougher and more likely not only to destroy the maggot but to injure the shoot ; no insecticide seems to be of any use, and I have never found that the maggot is any the worse for its application. Mildew is another pest of a different character. It is not so hurtful to the tree but very disfiguring, and, as all rosarians know, there are some varieties which are more seriously affected by it than others. Her Majesty, Mrs. Paul, and Mrs. W. J. Grant are nearly mildew-proof, and it is somewhat curious that TeaRoses seem to be so little affected by it. I believe it is generally looked upon as being favoured by alteration in temperature, and one would have thought that the more delicate Tea-JRose would have been more affected by it ; but it is not so. Syringing with a solution of soft-soap or dusting with sulphur may be adopted, but these are all disfiguring, and the rosarian would be glad if he w;re spared the necessity of using them. Aphis or greenfly is one of the most persistent and troublesome enemies of the rose, and is in some seasons very abundant ; some localities seem to suffer more from it than others, and it is curious to notice when rosarians meet together how varied are their experiences as to the pest. Sometimes the young shoots are literally covered with them, and there is great difficulty in getting rid of them. Where the collection is small, a Rosegrower will not object to employ someone to pass the finger and thumb up each shoot, afterwards syringing the plants with clear water. Where it is large this is impossible, and syringing with a solution of Qishurst compound, and afterwards with clear water, will get rid of them. Perhaps in no point is the difference between an exhibitor and a non-exhibitor so manifest at this season as in the question of mulching ; the former will now probably cover his beds with a good coating of farm-yard manure, which does not add to the appearance of the Rose-garden, but whioh the exhibitor considers necessary for the full development of the flowers. Another plan is at this season to carefully fork over the beds, leaving them all neat and trim ; this certainly adds to one's pleasure in going amongst them. Afterwards apply liquid-manure ; this should be done before the buds begin to develop, and apply it twice or three times, allowing the space of several days between the applications. It should be applied in a clear state, if possible, and some soot should be placed in the vessel that contains it. Seasonable Hints. — As the shoots begin to develop it will be necessary, where they are strong, to prevent them from beiug blown about, and so a neat stake ought to be placed, to which they should be loosely tied. More especially is this needed in newlybudded Roses, for they are very apt to be nipped off with the light wind, and sometimes even the shoots are blown, out at the joint of junction. Climbing Roses and Roses on Walls.— As the young shoots are developed they must be tied in, as on these will depend the bloom for the next season ; and when the flowering season is over the old floweringwood of this year will have to be cut away, so as to allow space for these young shoots to grow at will, and get the full benefit of air and sunshine during the Summer months. I have heard people complaining of Crimson Rambler now flowering, but I believe it is attributed to this cause, that the shoots have been pruned and the old shoots left in — a fatal mistake. Again, all rampantgrowing Noisettes, or those which are called Dijon Teas, should be treated in the same way ; they require but little cutting baok, and a great deal of cutting out. Such kinds as Beve dOr and Bouquet dOr are especially valuable. The former may be called Tea Noisette, and the latter Dijon Tea. They are both nearly evergreen, and are clothed from the base to the extreme end of the shoots with bright green foliage ; while Gloire de Dijon, Madame Berard, and others have long bar- shoots which do not enhance their beamy. Some of Lord Penzance's Hybrid Sweetbriars are very sweet and pretty, and it is best to leave these alone too, so as to let them grow in a more natural state.