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Routine Care

Early in spring when the ground thaws out the winter protection must be removed; if it is left on too late the canes will be forced into growth too early only to be severely injured by late spring frosts. Shake any remaining manure out of the straw incorporating this into the soil with a fork rather than a spade. The little feeding roots are close to the surface, therefore, in digging the bed in spring and in cultivating it during the summer care must be taken not to work the soil deeper than 3 inches.

Roses delight in plenty of food and for best results fertilizers should be applied as recommended below.

The first summer that the garden is made no extra feeding will be necessary provided the beds have been made in the prescribed way. After the winter protection has been removed an application of either bone dust or pulverized sheep manure will benefit the leaf [129] growth as well as the future blooms; wood ashes applied at the same time is an excellent stimulant to the root growth and increases the vigor of the wood. This may be dusted over the bed and lightly raked into the surface at the time of cultivation. Mix equal parts of the wood ashes and the fertilizer in a bucket before applying to the bed.

By this time April showers and early spring rains necessitate very frequent cultivation. The necessity for this is not only to keep the weeds in check, but to conserve the moisture by preventing undue evaporation for the use of the roots, not only now but later in the season when rains are not so frequent. Stirring the top soil also prevents the formation of a hard crust through which neither air nor water can circulate freely. Therefore, cultivate often; if this work is done regularly after every rain, just as soon as the soil is dry enough to work it will be sufficient to go over the beds lightly with a rake, otherwise a hard crust will form which will have to be broken up first by the hoe, then leveled off with the rake.

During the months of May and June weekly applications may be given of weak liquid cow manure, about one quart to each plant. This will aid in the production of flowers besides increasing their size. The ex- [130]