CARE OF THE ROSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1941, Page 9

CARE OF THE ROSE

DRY WEATHER PRECAUTIONS. This has not been an ideal season for roses, but not so bad as some would have us believe. Perhaps the worst feature has been the prevalence of greenfly, which has done quite a lot of damage where prompt measures were not taken to deal with the pest. The rate of increase of greenfly is phenomenal and readers should bear in mind that it is useless to spray once only. Several applications of insecticide should be given at short intervals.

The hot. dry weather has on the whole, suited those rose varieties with a good deal of Pernetiana blood. This explains why yellow has boon one of the best colours in the garden up till now. because it is a typical Pernetiana shade.

Experiments have proved beyond doubt that the old-fashioned grass mulch has been a success in the control of black spot, states a writer in the "New Zealand Herald," The explanation of this phenomenon is that rhe winter spores of the black spot disease arc carried in the soil and have no chance of rising from this to the foliage when the bed is covered with a fairly thick layer of grass cuttings. Do nut rush out and mulch the beds at once if the soil is dry. Either give the beds a thorough soaking of water first and then put on the mulch, or else wait for rain.

The dryness of the soil has encouraged an appearance of the mildew and prompt measures should be taken to prevent this from spreading. There are several proprietary fungicides on lite market, specially prepared to combat this disease, or the old-fashioned liver of sulphur can be used at the rale of one ounce in live gallons of water. The spray is made much mure oifoetive if soft soap is added at the rale of one ounce per gallon, as this makes the spray stick. Il should be noted, however, tiiat liver of sulphur stains paint and should not be used on climbing roses round the house.

Special care should be taken this season to relieve the plants of flower: as soon as they have ceased to be attractive. In an already difficult season there are no points in exposing the plants to an unnecessary strain, such, as caused by seed formation, A little dried blood or a mixed fertiliser fairly rich in nitrogen will also help the plants to make growth and consequently a good autumn display, but be careful to see that the fertilisers get well washed into the soil before further application is made. T’nere is always the danger in dry seasons of fertilisers aceommulating in the soil until when at last rain does come, there is such a concentration <if chemicals that many •if the root hairs are killed outright