HOW LONG DO ROSES LIVE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19512, 10 June 1933, Page 11

HOW LONG DO ROSES LIVE?

Some varieties of rose undoubtedly have much more vitality than others; some deteriorate rapidly, while others bloom for years. About two years ago a friend told me (writes a contributor to ‘Popular Gardening,’ London) that he had a bed of Caroline testout rose: which were obtained from France in 1895 and were still doing well. Thes: old rose trees are in my garden wilt the dates of planting: La Tosca, 190 Joseph Hill and Captain Haywara 1910; Fharisaer and Earl of Warwick 1911; Dorothy Page-Roberts. Konigir Carola, Mme Melanie Soupert, 1912 Countess of Shaftsbury and Mme Rosary, 1913; George Dickson, 1915; Mrs Wemyss Quin and Mme Edouard Her riot 1916. All these are still vigorous, and two or three are In their original positions. Countess of Shaftsbury remained in one place for seventeen years, and has taken a fresh lease of life since being removed to a more sheltered place. Until last autumn the doyen of the garden was a bush of Jeannie Dick-on, which we bought in 1905. Recently it had stopped blooming, although the

foliage was quite healthy. Some climbing varieties seem to be especially long-lived. On a porch of my house is what appears to be a climbing China rose bearing pink blooms. When I first saw it thirty years ago, the bush was quite 15ft high, full of dead wood, and obviously of great age. In a photograph taken about 1870 the bush appears to be exactly as I found It in 1902! DONT FORGET FAEONIES. The paeony is such a hardy plant that I have often wondered why one does not see it more frequently in gardens, writes “The Hoe,” In “The Dominion.” The blooms are so decorative and so bright that even the smallest garden seems to me to be incomplete without at least one clump. The clean sturdy leaves form a splendid background for the flaming colours of the flowers.

Paeonies may be planted In any soli and in practically any position, although they prefer a deep rich soil. They are particularly hardy plants and easy to grow. Plant them any time now. They may be grown from seed, but the safest and simplest way Is to buy small plants from a good nurseryman.

You must not expect anything remarkable from them the first year because the paeony takes a little time to establish its.elf. But once it has settled down it resents any interference, in fact it thrives best when left alone. Some people make the mistake of pulling or cutting away the leaves. These should be left to fade away. Another reason why paeonies are so satisfactory to grow is that they do not suffer from insect pests or blight. They like plenty of water, so do not forget to water them in dry weather. They require plenty of room to develop and a distance of 3 feet between each plant would not be too great. There are double and single paeonies in different shades and many varieties; if you are buying plants remember that some bloom later than others.