Manures for Roses.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 8

Manures for Roses.

The rcse is oae of those plants which do not like the too free use of manures at their loots, and we have not far to seek for the reason when we remember that the growth made during a single year is nob very considerable. By this, however, we must notsuppo3e that manures do not benefit rose tree?, or that by their application the plants and flowers are not improved, for .anyone who has grown this lovely flower knows-only tco well how the trees respond when weak dosea cf liquid manure are given frequently during their growing season. The following note 3 are written to give growers a tcientific (true) knowledge of the requirements of the rose, and what kind of manureto use to supply it with proper food. > To understand what kind of manures to apply to rose trees we must learn what constituents they require. The analysis of-the rcse will te)l us what particular ingredients they take from the soil durirg growth and dtvelopment. The following table will show what constituents are most requited by the different parts of the plant :—: —

These analyse are very instructive, and much can be learnt from them. By looking carefully at tha above table we may observe that during the development of roots and stems a fair proportion of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid ia needed and abundance of lime ; and as the leaves and flowers are developed a large quantity of potash, phosphoric acid, aud nitrogen is needed, but iv the latter cisc only a small quantity of lime. During the early stages of growth of tbe rose trees the buds burst,, and a largo amount of stein is soon formtd, the leaves bting very small, tLio and' tender. After a time the stem begins to h&rdcD, owing to tbe t insues becoming more woody and the deposition of lime in them, and the leaves begin to increase in .size and thickness. The development of the leaves is due to the amount of nitrogen and potash tbe plant has at its command, so it' they do not grow satisfactorily water them once every four days with a solution of nitrate of potash, at the rate of 2<.z in leal of water, until they do.

As soon as the buds begin to form the rose frees should be watered with either of the following mixtures, or, if the weather be showery, they may be spread over the surface of the borders : (1) One part nitrate of soda, one parb kainit, two parts saporphoephate of lime, and quarter part sulphate of iron ; (2) one part nitrate of potash, one parb guano, one part superphosphate, and one-sixth parb of sulphate of iron ; (3) equal parts of kainit and best Peruvian guano. Sulphate of ammonia may take the place of the nitrate of soda in No. 1. Apply to the borders one ounce to the square yard once every week, or the same quantity may be applied to a yard in 2gal of water. These artificial mixtures will produce the best possible results, either on plants in pots or planted out in borders ; but as some may not care to go to the expense of purchasing these we will give a description of other more common substances which may be used instead.

A sprinkling of bone meal in potting soil, or two ounces to the square yard for borders, is a very gcod substance to use to induce the rose trees to produce flowers of good substance ; kainit applied at the same rate will give firmness to the stem and leaves, while soot at the rate of a sin (48) pot full to a barrow load of soil, or soot water, made by putting one peck in a sack and placing this in 20^al of water, and applied to borders, will induce leaf and stem growth and give a brighter colour to the flowers. The liqnid which drains from manure heaps, if diluted with water until it be the colour of pale ale, is a very suitable substance to water rose treeß with every week ; too much, however, is apt to make the soil sour. About 3in of partly-decayed farmyard manure, applied as a mulch to the surface of soils -which have a teß Jency to dry too quickly,

will conserve the moisture, thereby greatly benefiting the rose trees during dry weather. In appljing manures to rose trees always use it sparingly, small and frequent doses being par excellence ia growing all plants. Roses newly planted have not sufficient roots to absorb much food, so great care is needed not to mix a lot of farmyard manure in the soil, a small quantity of bone meal and a little potash being all that ia needed.— W. Dyke, in Amater Gardening.

SELECTED CONSTITUENTS OF THE KOSE. In roots. Stem. Leaves. Flowers. Nitrogen 931 ' 1526 23 29 2631 Po'ash 14-37 1561 3768 47 39 Phosphoric acid 28 16 1121 1213 29 43 Lime ... 4126 5160 11 29 10 52 Inn ... 213 2-31 429 086