ROSES FOR EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

ROSES FOR EXHIBITION.

SUITABLE VARIETIES. The following is a select and reliable list of varieties of roses for exhibition: — Caroline Testout, bright satin rose; Coronation, flesh to shrimp pink (reliable) ; Dame Edith Helen, glowing pink, fragrant (splendid); Earl Haig, deep scar-let-shaded crimson; George Dickson, velvety, scarlet crimson; Golden Dawn, Marechal Niel, yellow (superb); Frau Karl Druschki, lovely snow white; Hugh Dickson, brilliant crimson scarlet; Gloire de Chedane Guinoisscau, bright vermillion; Madame Abel Chatenay, carmine rose Mid salmon; Mrs. Charles Lamplough, soft lemon (scented); Mrs. Wallace H. Rowe, rose-shaded lilac (one of the best); Mrs. W. C. Miller, pearly blush salmon and vermillion; Sachsengruss, delicate flesh 011 white ground (extra largo); Una Wallace, soft cherry rose of perfect form; Souvenir de Georges Pernet, orient red, shaded yellow; Margaret Dickson Hainill, delicate maize straw (superb). A DWARF VARIETY. Dwarf polyantha roses arc a class of miniature rows producing their flowers in clusters' almost continuously throughout the season. ' Their compact habit of growth makes them most desirable - for massing also for dwarf garden hedges, for edges to borders and beds, and for planting among standards to furnish the ground beneath them. They aro suitable everywhere. The marvellous new creations have entirely superseded the few old varieties that have hitherto been in cultivation. The appended list comprises a few of the latest and best novelties. For cultural direction, treat the same as in the ease of other roses. For hedges, plant lOin. to 12in. apart:—Gloria Mundi, most brilliant orange scarlet, borne in clusters on dwarf bushy plants (splendid); Dolly Varden, light to deeper rose with narrow petals in tho centre (very quaint and attractive) ; Fireglow, brilliant vermillion red shaded with orange (tho most vivid red in this class); Golden Salmon, intense fiery golden salmon, produced in large full clusters; Golden Salmon Superior, an improvement on Golden Salmon, bright in colour; Paul Crampel, deep salmon red (very attractive); Sparkler, dark, rich red doublo flowers in fine trusses of sturdy growth; Superba, rich, deep crimson, which ( deepens with age (the most double of all the polyanthas) ; Bonny Jean, dark red, small wax-like flowers produced in large clusters. A brilliant bed of colour may bo obtained by planting Gloria Mundi or other varieties in a separate bed to colour. Some of tho varieties of polyantha roses are given to sporting. POTASH FOR ROSES. Most important results havo been. obtained after scientific experiments, and reports from amateur roso growers 011 the treatment of m Mew by tho medium of potash manuring. Tho best forms of potash aro sulp?r.ito of potash, muriate of potash and wood ashes. The excessive use of nitrogenous manures favours the incidence >of disease, and can only be balanced by adequate amounts of potash. A leading roso grower who used no manure, but gave his roso bed a heavy surface dressing of wood ashes lightly forked in, was quite free during a bad season for mildew. Wood ashes must be kept and applied dry. In 0110 instance a doublo handful of potash sulphato to a bush that was badly mildewed the previous season, produced a remarkable effect. Many reliablo reports testify as to the splendid results in tho growth of the rose bushes, and freedom from mildew after treating tho soil around tho bushes with sulphato or muriato of potash applied as a surface dressing and lightly chipped in around tho roses after tho beds have been dug over. MILDEW ON ROSES. Mildew is generally attributed io atmosr phcric conditions such as excessive heat and moisture or dryness in- tho soil and to draughts. These, 110 doubt, have some influence in spreading mildew. But from the experiments and results of potash manuring, it is highly probable that mildew on roses can bo controlled from the soil by top dressing freely with sulphate or muriato of potash after tho beds have been dug over in winter. To keep roses free from mildew and other leaf diseases is most important as after a bad attack of mildew the plants lose their vitality. Some varieties are much more subject to mildew than others, whereas some aro practically immune.. Distributors of now roses make a feature in their descriptions if the plants are free from mildew. THE FLOWER GARDEN. With the advent of July and approach of longer days and more sunshine ono may resume work in the flower garden, which has been completely at a standstill during tho two last weeks in Juno owing to tho cold wet state of tho soil and frequent rains rendering tho soil absolutely unfit to tread upon for planting or other work. This specially applies to heavy retentive soils. liowover, tho gardener must not complain as the splendid weather and soil conditions experienced throughout the autumn and up to tho middle of June enabled him to plant and work the soil and be well forward in readiness for winter conditions.