Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1870 — Selection and Treatment of Roses. [ARTICLE]

Selection and Treatment of Roses.

The rose stands at the head of the entire list of flowers; and every home should be made beautiful and fragrant with them. To succeed in their cultivation, the Inexperienced should observe the following considerations: 1. Instead of selecting varieties from the catalogues of nurserymen, which, because of glowing descriptions are perfectly bewildering, it is wiser to request some reliable person who grows them for market to furnish, according to bis own Judgment, a few varieties,' embracing diversity of colors, which are strong growers and first rate bloomers. 2. While summer and climbing roses will grow in shadi-d locations with little attention, it is otherwise with moss, and also perpetual bloomer® These need kind treatment and sunlight. They should stand in rich mellow soil, kept free from grass aud weeds. And if the ground around them is covered with manure, in the fall or spring, they will repay the cost, by a more abundant yield of fine blossoms. 8. Close annual pruning will cause more new wood to grow, and consequently ensure a better show of flowers 4. Roses budding on the wild root, grow freely and blossom But they always throw up suckers from old roots that, because of vigorous growth, wili overrun and destroy the cultivated part of the bush, unless constantly watched and kept off. Hence tire inexperienced should always order bushes grown upon their own roots. 5. In summer, keep them free from the little slug or worm that works upon the leaves. In our nursery, we pick off' and destroy all leaves they are found on. But strong soap suds can be applied to advantage.—“ C. D. C..” in Western Rural.