PLANT ROSES NOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 26

PLANT ROSES NOW

During the month of August and for several more weeks to come, the garden stores will be offering big stock of this “Queen of all Flowers,” for rose-planting time is here. Many of our readers are rose enthusiasts, so our few guiding remarks will be mainly addressed to those who have just embarked ttpon this delightful branch of home gardening. Firstly, the location of site is important. Roses will never do any good under the branches of trees. Place them well away from such, and all shrubbery growth, as the roots of these usually extend further than their branches.

Select, if possible, an open situation, i.e., where the plants will get plenty of air and sunshine, yet sheltered, if possible, from high winds. It is not necessary, nor even desirable, however, that there should be unbroken sunshine all day, especially during the summer. The ideal soil is what may be termed a clay loam. This is of an adhesive nature, but should be sufficiently porous to permit the ready drainage of surplus water. Any good garden soil, however, which will produce good vegetables, will, with proper fertilisation, yield very fine roses. A too heavy soil may be improved by working in a little coarse sand and vice versa. The most desirable manure is organic, and wherever obtainable parti-ally-rotted cow manure is to be preferred. It can be used most liberally without any danger of burning; it is also most useful In holding moisture In the soil. Horse manure, when new, is very heating, and should not be used while in this condition except as a winter mulch, and even then should not be applied heavily at once —several light applications a day or two apart being better. Sheep and fowl manure are also recommended. Whatever manure is used, it is very essential that same be thoroughly broken up, and mixed with the soil, and if this is done in a very thorough manner quite new manure may, if necessary, be used. There is no real substitute for good old cow or barnyard manure, but sometimes this is not obtainable, and then we must resort to the artificial fertilisers. Ground lime is probably the best substitute. This may be used separately or to supplement animal manures. After the beds lare well dry, scatter the lime on the surface until the ground Is nearly covered; then with the use of a fork, mix it quickly and thoroughly with the already fine soil.