Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/781

 Popular Science Monthly

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����Do You Grow Roses? Here Is a Little Information

THE real secret of success in rose culture is watchful- ness. The rose, more than any other plant, has enemies which, if given a chance, prey upon it and spoil its loveliness. There- fore, eternal \"igilance is the price that must be paid for the rose garden. A long stream from a garden hose to wash off the slugs, hand-picking to re- move the chafer, frequent drenching with kerosene emul- sion or sprinkling with arsenate of lead to rid the plants of the sucking insects, aphides and thrips — all are necessary at frequent intervals if one would have roses. Such care would be too tedious were it not a labor of love. For that reason it has been said that the first requisite in preparation of a rose gardien is a special love for the flowers. The sec- ond requisite is plenty of space. The rose is aristo- cratic. It does not like to be crowded in with mixed com- pany. Where loses are cultivated for

the sake of the cut flowers they should be planted in rows far enough apart to per- mit of cultivation with a horse-drawn plow. And they should be cultivated

��Trimming the roses properly. A bank of memorial roses and those hardy climbers, the sweet multiflora roses

���Jar covering cutting to prevent evaporation and a rose pruned to an advantageous height

��often — not merely two or three times a season. Cultivation should be continued up to within a few weeks of the dormant period.

Roses are propagated from seed, from hardwood cuttings, softwood cuttings, layers, bud- ding and grafting. The most common method is to use hard- wood cuttings. Good, strong, well-ripened shoots of the past summer's growth are selected. These should be cut between the time the leaves fall and freezing weather. They should be cut into lengths of 5 or 6 in., with the upper cut just above a bud, and should be tied in bundles with raffia or with string that will not rot easily if exposed to dampness. After they have been labelled plainly they should be buried in moist sand, tops down, and placed in the cellar. If buried outside, they should be placed deep in the ground, below danger from frost.

Where only one or two cuttings are to be rooted, an in- verted glass fruit jar may be placed over them for pro- tection. When roots have begun to grow, the plants should be permanently set in good, watered soil and shaded for a few days from the noonday sun.

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