THE GROWING OF ROSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1939, Page 3

THE GROWING OF ROSES

SOME USEFUL HINTS. The rose in its many forms is undoubtedly the most popular of all flowering plants, being appreciated alike for its beauty and its fragrance. The present season has been exceptionally favourable for the "Queen of Flowers." The foliage is clean and healthy, the flowers are a good size and colour, and they are developing normally. The climbers, which are stronggrowing sorts of the bush varieties, are the first to open, and whether trained against a house or fence or pegged down are very satisfactory. Climbing Shot Silk is one of the best; it grows strongly in good soil; in fact, it is so strong that at pruning time it is possible to cut all the wood which has flowered away, there being sufficient strong young shoots to take its place. Other good climbing varieties are Chateau de Clos Vouget, Etoile de Holland. Madam Butterfly. Mabel Morse. Ladj' Hillingdon, and Lemon Pillar. Six good ramblers are Bonfire. Refresher. Mary Wallace, Prince .of Orange. Emily Gray, and Lady Gwen Colon.

The following nine novelties can bo recommended: —Madam Helen Parmentier is a rose of two distinct colours. the interior of the petals being red and orange and the exterior golden yellow. Dorothy McGredy is also a bicolour novelty, the outside of the petals being sunflower yellow and the inner intense vermillion; McGredy’s Triumph, geranium red flushed with orange: McGredy’s Pride, orange and salmon pink flushed saffron yellow. Faience, mixed colours of peach and apricot; Gerald Hardy, bright scarletred; Caress, light salmon-carmine; Kardinal, blackish red changing to fieryscarlet: Joseph Pernet. very large, good shape. Any of the stronger-grow-ing varieties make good standards such as Betty Uprichard. inner face of petals delicate pink, outer glowing carmine; Etoile de Holland, bright dark red; Golden Emblem, cadmium yellow; Hugh Dickson, brilliant crimson; Madam Butterfly, bright pink apricot and gold; Souv. de Georges Pernet, Orient red.

Though the foliage is beautiful and clean and there is little signs of pests, we know they will appear, and it is better to attack them on their first appearance than wait until they become established. Mildew is one of the most troublesome fungoid pests, and is specially prevalent in warm, moist, muggy weather. The conditions are then ideal for the germination of the spores, which must have moist conditions. There are some varieties which are mildew-proof, but not many, and it usually appears on the lower part of the bud or on the young tender shoots. Spraying with some sulphur compound is the most satisfactory, and while the plants are in flower, it is better to use a spray which won’t stain. Formaldehyde one tablespoonful in a gallon of water, or potassium sulphate, one ounce in three gallons of water. For spraying while the plants are at rest or when not in flower, limo sulphur is satisfactory, and so also is cozan sulphur. Dusting with dry flowers of sulphur is sometimes carried out. but whatever is used, care has to be taken to completely coat both the under and upper sides of the leaves and the stems. For green fly, there is nothing better than soapy water applied as hot as one can put their hand in it. Dissolve lib of soft sbap in two gallons of water, and add one and a-half teaspoonfuls of Black Leaf 40. Again, take care to completely wet all foliage and young shoots, especially among clusters of buds, which is a favourite hiding place for the pest. Both green fly and mildew are specially bad on ramblers, especially those grown on walls or fences, or those which have not been pruned regularly and have grown into a tangled mass. Black spot is also troublesome in wet, cold seasons, specially on the Pernetianas and those related to them. In bad seasons the plants become completely defoliated. Spraying as recommended for mildew will keep the pest in check.

■ When cutting roses it is advisable to cut them with fairly long stems, for not only are they more effective when arranged in vases, but you at the same time carry out mild summer pruning, which is an advantage. If the flowers are not cut the stronger shoots should be shortened back to about half their length immediately after flowering. The importance of keeping the surface soil hoed up to destroy weeds and provide a surface mulch must be stressed, and while it may be an advantage to mulch the beds with stable manure or lawn mowings in very dry districts, in wet areas it is not advisable. Applications of liquid manure will help the second crop, but it is not necessary i' the plants arc making satisfactory growth.