Show II ROSES FOR THE TI-IE HOME GARDEN 11 Any arable soil will wilI grow roses Theoretically and according to the books which have until the pa t three three years jears been been accepted as the law aw and the Gospel the soil solI must be heavy clay must be heavily fertilized fer- fer and must must must-be be two three and even four our feet deep This hokum has las been pretty thoroughly disproved disproved dis- dis proved and it will simplify the whole situation to say that good roses can easily be grown In any soil that will raise good petunias petunia s or any good garden crop It does need to be dug to two spades of I depth and if it it is extremely heavy I clay it 11 Is better to have it ameliorated ameliorated ameliorated ameli- ameli I orated with enough lighter lighte soil so 1 I that it may b be worked or I If it Is extremely light sand it 11 may need need I the he same sort sor of material for tor fertility I The time to plant roses Is Just the J earliest moment in the spring which may mean in the middle states the middle of March in the southern states the middle of ol February Fob Feb b eb- eb in the colder north the mIddle middie middle mid mId- dle die of oC April and oven even in into to early May It cannot be too earl early if the soil is actually thawed and workable workable work work- able and for much of the country autumn planting Is even better Get et dormant outdoor field grown gro I budded plants if possible These have had really three years from the seed of oC the on which they are probably budded and actually actually ac ac- ac- ac two years of oC life in the open ground They have not been depleted depleted de de- of oC strength or coddled in any greenhouse They should come as I have said dormant dorm which means leafless ss ss and Without ut an any evidence that their buds have started to grow With ith a sharp knife or pruning shears cut back ack the tops to not more than three or four eyes or buds on each shoot and to not more than three shoots It will break your heart to do cio this but your heart will mend whereas these long shoots left leCt on into which the Injured in injured injured In- In roots In strange ground round are expected to pump life are almost sure to languish and do less well than otherwise The roots need only to have the bruised ends cut cutoff cutoff I of off cleanly They need always alwa's to tobe tobe tobe be kept moist and If it as one works with them they are dipped Into a pail of water so that they go wet into the ground that is better These hybrid tea roses can well be planted from twelve to eighteen Inches Inches' apart according to the huskiness of the plants when re re- re They ought not to be in locations where the roots roots' of trees or shrubs will seriously Interfere with them though they do enjoy a little shade and shelter In planting presuming that the ground has bc been n thoroughly broken up and made fine Cine the rose plant Is set down onto a little cone with the roots spread out Then the test best of ot the soil a hand Is sifted about and in Contact with the roots never any manure fresh or 01 otherwise otherwise otherwise other other- wise in direct contact please and It is all nIl pressed firmly ending either with the pounding of ot the earth aro around nd the roots b by the end of the shovel shove handle or or by the heel of or the shoe Plant the rose a little Utile deeper than It appears to have grown in the nursery nursery deep deep p enough In any case to cover the junction between the top an and the under stocK stoc at least an inch and preferably nearly neatly two Inches Shallow planting is an invitation to suckers and to failure e too deep planting is is an in in- in to toa a rose grave trave So treated treated treated treat treat- ed and if It the ground Is dry with witha a thorough watering that will soak the soil the plants will be In readiness readiness readi- readi readi ness to feel the warmth of the spring and to respond The The De Do- |