CULTIVATION OF ROSES.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIX, Issue 738, 11 June 1907, Page 2

CULTIVATION OF ROSES.

_«~.... - ■ llr John H, Fail-hurst, who is ;•'.;- \ nowned as an eiiili: :''•:<• noi i<-i!l---turist, has supplied sis „ ith the follow ing article on the cultivation of the queen of flowers — the rose: — Lot me premise by stating that I am quite sure that as fine roses can be grown in Dannevirke as in any other place in New Zealand. Roses thrive best if planted in beds by themselves, or if judiciously mixed among shrubs from which they can get a fair amount of shelter without being overshadowed in any way. In preparing a bed for roses the best method is as follows: — First dig out the top spit of soil and throAv to one side, then take a pick and thoroughly loosen up the subsoil to a depth of about one foot; on top of this place about six inches of well-rotted manure, then throw back the top soil and allow to settle for about six weeks when the roses can be planted. It the beds are prepared this month and the roses planted about the first week in August, a fine show ot bloom will be had about November, December and January next. In planting one wants to study whether they intend to grow for the home and garden, or for exhibition purposes. If for the former teas and hybrid teas are the best, on account of having a much longer blooming period, but if for exhibition one must grow the hybrid perpetuals. In buying the roses for a windy place, like Dannevirke, it is best to purchase from a nursery where they bud on very short stocks, so that in planting the junction of the bud and stock can be planted just below the surface of the ground. In planting carefully spread out the roots, cover with a little soil, and then shake the tree well to ensure the soil going all among the roots. Fill up the hole and tread solid. Do not plant deeper than six inches. After planting, a top dressing of about two inches of manure will' prove of great benefit, as it keeps the soil warm, and allows the roses to make good roots. As" a general rule the roses are sufficiently pruned for the first season, when they come from the nursery, and all that they will require will be the ends of the branches cut off as far as they die back. The following season they will required the weak shoots removed and the main branches cut back to about three buds. Generally speaking, the teas should be only lightly pruned, but the hybrid teas and hybrid perpotuals require hard cutting back. It is quite a mistake to suppose that roses require ahsolutc shelter. A fairly open situation that do=--« not get the full blast of the prevailing winds is best, as under these conditions the roses keep much more free from pests. I will give a list of a dozen each of teas, hybrid teas and hybrid perpetuals that I have proved to do well in Dannevirke: — Teas : Billiard and Barre, Beaute fnconstant, Bridesmaid, Lady Roberts, Madam E., V., Hermanos, Maman Coehet, Mrs Edward Mawley, The Bride, White Maman Coehet, Papa Gentier, Peace, Souvenir de President Carnot. Hybrid Teas : Madam Abel Chatenay, Madam Jules, Grolez, Antoine Revoire, Dean Holey, Duchess of Portland, Lady Ashtown, Madam Jules Gravereaux, Mildred Grant (has won more prizes than any other rose), Mamie, Mrs W. J. Grant, Prince de Bulgaria, Viscountess Folkstone. Hybrid Perpetuals : Victor Hugo, Captain Hayward, Hugh Dick- ' son, Hugh Watson, Helen Keller, La Rosiere, Marchioness of Downshire, Marquise Litta, Margaret Dickson, Mrs J. Lang, Oscar Cordell, Sir Robert Stout, and the finest white rose in the world, Fran Karl Druski. Unless the ground is well manured i1» is useless to expect to succeed . The .soil can scarcely be made too rich. If" the rose plot is properly prepared at first, an annual top dressing after pruning is all the roses will require. In Dannevirke where we are subject to late frosts it is a mistake to prune before the middle of August. "When the roses start blooming, if any of tlio buds do not open freely, stimulate with liquid manure (soot and fov.-l manure is best) twice a week. Jf iliore is any point on which I have not made myself clearly _ understood I shall be only too pleased to explain. JOHN K. FAIRHURST. Dannevirke, Juno 10, 1907.