ROSE CULTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 11

ROSE CULTURE.

THE ART EXPLAINED.

The second of the ssrie* of horticultural lectures arranged conjointly between the Auckland Council of the Institute of Horticulture and the Workers' Educational Institute was given by Mr. W. H. Rice in the old Grammar School Building, Symonds Street. There was a large attendance. Mr. N. R. W. Thomas presided and introduced the lecturer, explaining at the same time the list of subjects to follow in the series, the whole forming a most useful and informative survey in theoretical and practical horticulture.

Mr. Rice traced the history of the rose from very ancient times, and gave a long list of ancient writers who had referred to it. Its scent and its beauty had appealed in every age. It had occupied a prominent place in the emblems of England as long ago as the time of Edward 1., while Edward TV. Issued the first coin with the rose on it. Henry VIII. caused the rose Noble (worth 6/8) to be struck. The rose had continued to increase in popularity since those early days. The speaker referred to the fact that Australia and New Zealand were without any native specimens of the true roses, our bush lawyer being the nearest representative. Mr. Rice dealt at length with the history of the modern rose. They were all hybrids, and practically all the known species of rose had peen used in hybridisation to such an extent that it was now almost impossible to say to what types of parents some of the modern varieties owed their origin. Development had been very rapid in late years, and it was calculated that somewhere about 200 new varieties were catalogued every year. Mr. Rice mentioned in rapid survey some of the great names connected with the evolution of the rose to-day. He referred to the work done by PernettDucher in France and the Dicksons in Ireland, also Alister Clark of Australia, and Messrs. Lippiatt, senior and junior. of Xew Zealand. One of the most interesting parts of the lecture dealt with the propagation of the rose. The various varieties of stocks in use were mentioned and the fact that out of all the tried ones the Italian Manetia and some forms of the Multiflora were the most in use. while a hybrid form of the Manetta raised by the late Mr. Lippiatt, having a tea strain it it, had been found very useful, and was the mast popular stock in the Dominion to-day.

Mr. Rice advised those present to get rid of the idea that rosea could only grow in a special garden, and advised them to plant roses wherever they had room.

Many useful iints were given on root pruning, with a view to removing all bruised parts and shortening in order to enable a good start being made in the new location. Pruning was dealt with briefly, showing how the dwarfer roses needed less of the knife than the more rampant. A warning was given against planting too deep—the line to which the roses were down in the nursery being a good guide. Summer mulching with liqui'l manure was advocated where the beat results wers desired. In liquids a mixture of loz sulphate of potash and lez of sulphate at ammonia to 1 gallon of water was recommended. For ordinary dressing basic slag lib to the square yard was recommended, or a mixture of super, potash and ammonia, in the proportion of 2i and * each of the two latter. Hints were given on pests and diseases, while a large sheaf of questions was answered. On the motion of Mr. A. L. Mander, a vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer and to tlie chairman.