The love of flowers is universal, one of the simple but beautiful things of life that cannot be destroyed even by the mechanization, noise, and overcrowding of modern cities. There are approximately five thousand varieties of roses being grown today, but it is not the number of roses that the gardener grows that matters; it is the pleasure he gets from growing them. This book was written with a hope that it may help some people to grow better roses, and that, in doing so, they may gain pleasure and some degree of satisfaction. Complete satisfaction is never achieved by a good gardener; he is always striving to improve his results. |
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN ROSE The earliest roses The first rose catalogues and books Diversity of types Adaptability Screens Miniature roses Shrubs Cut flowers PRINCIPLES OF GARDEN DESIGN General arrangement Shape and general care of lawns Hedges The placing of plants ROSE GARDENS Size and shape of beds The home rose garden Public rose gardens Memorial rose gardens Rose test gardens SELECTION OF VARIETIES Roses for Australian conditions Abbreviations and explanations Climbing roses Floribunda or Hybrid Polyantha roses Polyantha roses (Orleans type) Hybrid Wichuraiana roses Roses as shrubs Roses for low edgings Roses for hedge-making Roses for bedding or massing Roses as weeping standards Evergreen screens Winter-blooming roses Miniature roses | PROPAGATION Layering Grafting Cuttings Budding Stocks Bud selection AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ROSES SOILS Origin of soils Types of soil DRAINAGE Water, air, and bacteria Soils that need drainage Drain outlets Surface and underground drains PREPARATION OF BEDS Trenching The addition of soils and manures PLANTING Time to plant Ordering Unpacking rose plants Spacing High or low planting Soil replacement Position RECONDITIONING OLD ROSE GARDENS WINTER PRUNING The necessity for pruning Heavy or light pruning When to prune Pruning bushes and standards Pruning Floribundas and Polyanthas Pruning climbers Pruning Wichuraiana ramblers Pruning rose hedges SUMMER TREATMENT Watershoots Watering Manuring Summer trimming Care of climbers | GENERAL CARE Moving plants Mulching Watering Digging Earthworms Weeds Ties for climbers and standards Suckers Removing old blooms Sickly plants Disbudding Tools CLIMATIC DIFFICULTIES Roses in cold climates Roses in sub-tropical climates Roses in tropical climates Roses in hot, dry climates Growing roses in sandy soils PLANT FOODS Analysis of plant ash Organic waste matter Major plant food elements Minor plant food elements Foliage feeding Soil acidity or alkalinity Humus and animal manures Vegetable manures Compost Liquid manures DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL Mildew Black spot Rose wilt Die-back Rose rust Scales Aphides Sooty mould Ants Thrips Leaf-cutter bees Caterpillars Less common diseases Sprays and dusts GARDEN FRIENDS Insects Birds | WHY ROSES FAIL Air pockets Deep planting Manuring at planting time Dry roots Excessive acidity or alkalinity Inadequate drainage Rose-sick soil Excessive manuring Frosts Shade Proximity of large plants Heavy pruning Artesian water SHOWING ROSES Early rose shows Selection of varieties Disbudding Covering of blooms Making covers and shades Cutting blooms Keeping blooms Wiring Packing for transport Spare blooms "Dressing" blooms Staging Rules for showing roses Methods of judging Small shows ROSES FOR INDOOR DECORATION Design Containers Cutting blooms Foliage Wiring Cut-flower trade in roses PERFUME Early records Perfume in modern roses Oil of roses ROSE CALENDAR ROSES IN HISTORY, LEGENDRY, AND HERALDRY ROSE SOCIETIES |