CARING FOR ROSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1940, Page 19

CARING FOR ROSES

This has been a splendid season for the young growth of roses which are, in most cases, coming away well after a spell of mild, moist weather, with comparatively little bad wind. It is the spring gales which do so much damage to soft young growths, breaking them off, and blemishing the leaves. From now on the bushes should be kept moving, as the formation of buds and flowers is necessarily a big strain on them.

Occasional applications of liquid manure will help considerably in the development of good buds.

There is nothing safer or more generally satisfactory for the amateur than a liquid made from cow manure and soot. Equal quantities of each should be placed in any open meshed material and steeped in a tub or barrel of water. The solution should be diluted to the colour of weak tea and may be applied once a fortnight or so, but it should not be given while the ground is dry; in such circumstances give a good hosing before applying the manure. Of course, the surface of the rose beds should be kept open by forking lightly at frequent intervals and weeds must be kept down. Upon the first appearance of aphis spray the plants with Black Leaf 40 or other suitable insecticide.