THE ROSE GARDEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20587, 28 November 1936, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE ROSE GARDEN

So far roses are promising very well, their growth is strong, their foliage clean and healthy, and the flowers which have opened so far have been of excellent colour. The climbers are the first to open, and though their flowers may not have very long stalks, they can be arranged quite artistically in shallow bowls. Climbing Shot Silk and Climbing Madame Edouard Herriot have both done well. The buds of the bush varieties should be thinned down to one on each stem if good flowers are desired, and during the process of thinning any green fly which may be sheltering among the buds can be squashed between the finger and thumb. Green fly usually appears on the ramblers first, and unless it is checked the buds will drop off and the plant become partly defoliaged. Spraying with soapy water to which a little blackleaf 40 has been added will be an affective cure, this being applied when as hot as the hand will stand and care taken to see that both the under and the upper sides of the leaves be moistened. Greenfly 50 is also a good spray. Should mildew appear, spray with formaldehyde one tablespoonful to a gallon of water while in flower, for it does not stain the flowers or foliage, or with lime sulphur, clensel or some other sulphur compound after the first flowering is over. Feeding can also be carried out now, liquid manure made from horse, cow, or sheep manure being given on three occasions at weekly intervals. Should weather be cold and the soil wet. it is better to give a dry manure composed of 121 b superphosphate, 101 b kainit, 21b sulphate of magnesia, lib suplhate of iron, and 81b gypsum. Apply at the rate of 4oz to the square yard, and hoe it in.