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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1904)
pXrt four PRGES 29 TO 40 VOL. XXIII. v PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNiyg, FEBRUARY 21, 1904. ' NO. 8. MOW IS OW is the. time, this year, at Port- iana, to prune rose Dusnes, es pecially the hardy varletlea. I say this year because It Is a little earlier than the usual time for most years. "Wc have many-years -when the average temp erature Is about the same as during the last three months. This season we have had no cold -weather. The lowest temp erature was 3 degrees below freezing pclnt, that Is, 29 degrees above zero. As a result most of the rose bushes In and near Portland are full of sap and have begun to grow. The chances are very great that we shall not have any weather cold enough to damage the rose bushes. A wet snow will not hurt them. Should we have a "freeze up," which is exceedingly unlikely, nearly all rose bushes probably would bo killed to the ground, whether pruned or unpruned. It is best to prune now, for if the mild weather continues the bushes cannot be -pruned later without hurting them. In -this urtfete J cannot go into the ques tion why It hurts a rose bush to prune It when growing strongly. Ways of Pruning. The more severely a rose bush is pruned the stronger will bo the new shoots. The weaker or less vigorous a bush Is the more severely it should be pruned. The general rule for pruning Is, therefore, prune severely the dwarf giawlng varieties and less severely the strong growing varieties. There are some exceptions to this rule which I shall men tion further on in this article. The first thing in pruning rose bushes is cutting awij all the decayed and thinning the crowded and useless shoots. The decayed wood is to be cut away to keep the de cay from spreading; tho crowded shoots are those jLOj'close together, which will Interfere with the growing and the bloom ing, Only one shoot should be. loft where two or three or more are vers close to gether. It Is of the utmost Importance to remove the shoots In tho center of the bush, so as to let In the light to the center of the bush. Tho useless Ghbots are mostly the unripened shoots and the lateral branches which lnterfore with each other. In cutting away shoots they should bo cut several inches below the surfa-e of the ground, so they will not send up new shoots. There arc one of two oljccts in pruning a rose bush: One Is to produce specimen' or exhibition roses, that 1?. cumparatively few flowers; tho other is to obtain good roses and quite a r.umf'er of them. The latter are called, for convenience, for garden decoration, in this article "Which is proferrable. the owner must decide. He cannot have mag nificent specimens and plenty of them on one bush. A most excellent book on roses, entitled "Roses for English Gar dens," -was written by Miss Gertrude Jekyll and Mr. Edward Mawley. The American edition was published In 1902 by Messrs. Charles Forlbners Sons, of Now York. They havo klndly given me writ ten permission to have printed in this ar ticle plates shown herein which are taken from plates printed in that book. Miss I m T- : ' '. V ' ' ' - : 7 l ? : ' 1 ; . r ' " ' T : ' " ' 1 1 -L -' V1 ' " ' ' " " " "-' 1 1 1 1 , WANTS PORTLAND GARDENS BEAUTIFIED WITH T3E lengthening days remind us that Spring is near at hand, and the swelling buds give proof of It. Now Is the time to begin thinking about the Summer garden and to decide just what wo will grow In It this year. Roses they go without saying but it Is not fair to the beautiful flora of this state to con fine ourselves entirely to them. Why not bank the corners of yards and lawns with beautiful annuals? Why not fill the back yard, which is so often unsightly, with hardy bloomors which will give brilliant coloring and delightful fragrance all the Summer months? There are hundreds of beautiful annuals which for a little at tention will pay one back tenfold for the trouble it has been to sow the seed and give them water to drink. They will fur nish gay blossoms for your house and Elve a picturesQue appearanjee to your en tire property. A mansion without suitable garden and flowers Is like soup without salt, and the poorest hut grown "over with vines and flowers gives a most pleasing appearance. To work among flowers has a rcfinlng,ln fluence upon a person to sow, transplant nnd mirse these hAnntlf.il u. ...ubkiuuzr jl Gcd and to obsorve how grateful these little plants are ior tao ravor one shows them, is a lesson well learned. Is it not reviving to a. man who has toiled all day at business to work wnea evening comes among bis pets? There are Jn this city wealthy, highly THE TIME TO . VRUN E THE -AN EXHIBITION ROSE BEFORE AND . AFTER PBCXIXO. - Jekyll's Idea is to use the rose largely for garden decoration. The technical part of the book is written by Mr. Mawley, who is a well-known English rosarian. "It was in honor of his wife that the fa mous rosarians, Alexander Dickson & Sons (Ltd.) named the new beautiful pink tea rose Mrs. Edward Mawley. Pruning for Specimen or Exhibition t , Roses. For exhibition roses jalmost all varieties except climbing roses must be very se verely pruned; that Is, leaving from three to eight buds or eyes above the ground or from six to 18 Inches in height. From three to six shoots only should be left. A few varieties, mostly strong growing ones, do better not to be severely pruned, as they are liable to run to wood and not produce good flowers. Among such roses which 1 suggest should not be se verely pruned are. the following, which I have taken from the second edition (published In 1902) of "The Book of the Rose," written by Rev. A. Foster-Melllar, rector of Sproughton, Suffolk, England. This book is written on the Idea that the rose Is not a plant for garden decora tion. In the estimation of the Rev. A. Foster-Melllar. "the value of the rose Is In the glory of Its Individual flowers," and "the Idea is not tne rose for th garden, but the garden for the rose." ItIs a good book, with many valuable suggestions. I have made these quotations to show that, even for exhibition purposes, he thinks the roses I shall mention should not be severely pruned. Of course, they should not be severely pruned for garden decora tion. The roses which Rev. A. Foster Melllar recommenQs should not be severe ly pruned are as follows: HYBRID PERPETUALS. Clio. Duke of Edinburgh. Duko of Teck. - Mme. Gabriel Lulzct. . Margaret Dickson. HYBRID TEAS. Captain Christy. La France. "Viscountess Folkestone. TEAS.-,. ' Anna Olivier. - v Maman Cochet. "White Maman Cochet. Safrano. BOURBON. Souv. de. la Malmalson. A rose which, I think, should be add ed to tills list Is Ulrich Brunner. Plate No. 1 shows an exhibition rose before and after pruning. Pruning Roses for Garden Decoration Most people prefer roses for garden decoration. Most roses for exhibition pur poses not only require severe pruning, but also great care and special treat ment, both before 'and at the time at blooming. A person meat be quite an expert and have considerable knowledgo of tho different varieties of roses and their peculiarities before being success ful In producing exhibition roses. It re quires much less time and care to pruno and grow roses for garden decoration. Such are the soil and climatic conditions in and around Portland that by not prun ing severely and digging around the educated and refined ladies who can be seen in the Spring and Summer working in the garden with a trowel, spade and rake. They want to sow the seed them selves, transplant the tender plants and Justly claim the credit for themselves when friends admire their beautiful flowers. The annual plants aro the eas iest to grow for the amateur. Most va rieties are sown about April. They bloom the same season and die the same Fall or Winter. The perennial plants are more difficult to grow, but once well started they are as a rule most lasting and more easily cared for. The Varieties ot both are manifold. Annuals. It may not have occurred to many that flowers and plants are subject to mode or fashion. Just like dresses or hats, only the changes -are not so frequent. If we look back only two decades we see flowers in great favor, which were stiff In appear ance, like the camclia. Today such va rieties have disappeared from the market almost entirely. In those days flowers with regular form and petals arranged with mathematical exactness were sought, but now they are opposed. At present, flowers with irregular petals, luxuriant growth and habit are in demand. The -difference between the old asters, which were stiff and small, and the later varie ties, such as Washington Needle, Ostrich Feather or Giant Comet, and the Ameri can branching varieties Is most notice bushes each Spring and giving them very little care during the rest of tne year : will give beautiful roses for several months each year. Plate No. shows a rose for garden dec oration before and after pruning. Pruning Standard Roses. What is called a standard rose is a roso budded or grafted above the ground on another bush, usually on the Dog Rose or briar (Rose Canina) or on Ma nettL Standards are usually from two to four feet In height. Standards may be pruned for exhibition or for garden decoration, as the bush varieties are pruned. Plate No. 3 shows a standard hybrid-perpetual rose unpruned and also pruned for producing exhibition roses. In pruning bear in mind that the top bud left on a snoot will grow first, and in the direction in which it points. Cut the shoot just above the top bud you select. Be caraful that this top bud looks outward; that is, from the center of the bush. In pruning some regard to symmetry should be observed. The- shoots toward the center and back of the rose, that Is, farthcrcst from the sun, should be longer than those in front and on tho sides. In this article I have not attempted to treat pruning except on general lines. What may be called sclentlfio pruning re quires a great deal of study and experi ment. By study I do not mean studying books alone, I mean also the study of the different roses and their peculiarities and the best methods of pruning each. I havo endeavoreArto give briefly what I know of pruning from reading and from my own experience to assist others in growing roses, not qnly for their own pleasure, but to make Portland "The Rose City." Undoubtedly the best, most complete and comprehensive book on roses ever published is "The Rose Garden," by Will lam Paul, one of England's best profes sional rosarians. I have Jhe tenth edition of this book, published in 1903. It is a largo quarto of nearly 400 pages. Twenty four pages of this book are devoted espe cially to the subject of pruning. Mr. Paul in his book says: "I believe pruning to be the most important operation in rose culture, and, at the same time, the most difficult to obtain the mastery over and apply with success." ' The best Instruments for pruning are a sharp pruning knife, but it must be kept sharp; and a small, thin saw. smaller and not so wide as a saw made for pruning trees. It is much easier to use a secateur, or pruning shears, especially the'klnd in which the blade has a drawing motion, similar to the motion one gives to a knlfo blade In pruning. It Is of the greatest importance that any Instrument used in pruning should be sharp, so as to make a clean cut, and not bruise nor lacerate the bark. Plant the Cuttings. The parts of the rosebushes cut away may be planted, and you will get a bush on its own roots from almost every cut ting. It is true some roses do not propa gate readily from cuttings, but most of tho roses grown in Portland will "strike" readily, especially if planted with a "heel" to the cutting:. Dig a place In your gar able. The new varieties are nearly as good as medium-sized chrysanthemums; they bloom from early in August until late In November and come in all colors, ex cept the distinct canary yellow. Asters aro without doubt the most grateful flow ers among tho annuals. They are very showy in the garden and as cut flowers last longer than almost any other va riety. The seed should be planted in the beginning of April in a warm, sheltered position, and when large enough trans planted during the latter part of April or the beginning of May. Young plants can be bought nt reasonable prices at any re liable florist's. Mignonette. As asters are not fragrant. It Is advis able to have some mignonette sowit near them to add to their bouquet. Mignonette may be sown In April, In the beds where it is to bloom. It germinates easily and blooms until tha frost kills it. One of the best varieties Is Machet. It grows dwarf, pyramidal, and Is very fragrant. Pansles. Can anyone recall the small, old-fashioned pansles? Compared with the up-to-date varieties, such as the Odier, Cassier and Bugnot, one wonders how the old ones could ever have been admired. Pan sles should be sown in September, trans planted In October, and bloom in tho- early Spring. Many have been blooming in Port land all Winter, the winter having been unusually mild. They can also be sown A GARDEN ROSE BEFORE AND den, about the depth of a spade, where the soil Is rich, but without adding man ure. The place should be where the cut tings will not get a great deal of sun. Put In the cuttings about four inches deep, leaving two buds above the ground, being careful that tho side ot the cuttings, which on the bush was toward the sun, is planted toward the sun. Bo careful that the end of the cutting which Is put In the ground Is cut even with a sharp knife. It is sot necessary that there bo a dormant bud at or near the end of the cutting which is put In the ground. Probably a better way Is to plant the cuttings in boxes. Take boxes of any shape from six to eight Inches deep. Bore two holes with a small auger, or bttt, in diagonal corners of the bottom of the box for drainage. Cover these holes with small stones, or bits of crockery, so as to prevent the earth from running out. Fill the box with good garden soil and plant the cuttings as above described "when put In the ground. The advantage of uslnff a box Is that It can be easily moved, and, after the cuttings have started to grow, the box may bo moved so that the cut "tlngs will have more sun. Whichever way the cuttings are plant ed, they must not be allowed to become dry. It will probably not be necessary to glvo them water until the middle of May. By pursuing either of these methods, tho cuttings will be well-rooted by next Autumn, and can then bo planted In the open ground. If all rosebushes in and near Portland were properly pruned now and the cuttings planted, the rosebushes in Portland would be increased several fold this year. One reason why cuttings grow so easily at Portlapd, in the open, is that tho rain fall keeps the ground moist, and the mild, even temperature, which docs not hurt the cutting, and allows it to strike. A number of roses in Portland grow from cuttings which In other parts of the world, in the open or in hothouses, will not strike. In hothouses roses from cuttings are grown by means of what is called "bottom-heat." J. e., heat applied to the sand In -which the small pots are placed. In which the cuttings are put Some roses, of which Baroness Rothschild is one, are extremely difficult to propagate with bottom-heat, -whereas, the Baroness Rothschild may be propagated here, with comparatively little difficulty, in the open. A friend of mine, one of Portland's en thusiastic amateur rosarians, about two years ago put In about 800 cuttings in the Spring, and all grew except three. Spray the Bushes. After the bushes are pruned. It Is well to spray them with Bordeaux mixture, or seme other proper spray. By properly spraying, you keep off a great deal of mildew and the yellow leaf. Rosebushes are liable' to become affected with scale; not only the native scale, but the San Jose scale. If you nave a few roses, a small sprayer can bo obtained from the seed or plant stores, and you can also obtain there the proper spray. If you have many bushes, it may be well to have a professional florist spray your bushes. By several people clubbing- together and hiring a gardener, he. In one day, can spray a number of yard?, and the cost will be small for each person. About tho only caution In spraying at this time of and transplanted for late Fall . blooming. Another plant which requires the same treatment as the pansy Is the forget-me-not, or Myosotis. The"dellcate azure blue of these blooms always adds to the ap pearance of the garden, and bowlfuls of them are pretty In the house. One of the best varieties la the Victoria (Myosotis Azurica Victoria). . v Pinks. The carnation pink is In more general favor than any other annual, and In this climate they are sp easily grown that there Is no reason why every garden or lawn should not have a bed of them. In purchasing seeds, get them from a reliable house. It Is almost impossible to have the first bed entirely double, for every package of seed Is liable to contain a few single ones; but these can soon be elimi nated and the double ones only left to ma ture and seed. The seeds should be sown In the Spring, and the plants will bloom the same year. There are many beautiful colors and shades, but the scarlets and pinks - are- In most general favor. The variety known as the Marguerite carna tion is considered the best, as it gives the greatest satisfaction In this section. These will bloom the second year even better than the first. The Corn Flower. Another annual which Is a favorite in all sections of the country Is the new com flower also called Sweet Sultan. Good varieties are the Centurea Suaveo- ROSES AFTER PRUNING. the year Is that the spray should not be too weak, but not so strong as to damage the growing shoots. Do Not Prune Climbing Roses. Climbing roses should not be pruned. If a climber grows too rank, stalks may be cut out or shortened. If pruned as other roses arc, as a rule, they will run to wood and have but few flowers. In addi tion, a climbing rose is most beautiful when It grows as it desires. The shoots and branches maybe tied up, but, so far as possible, they should be allowed to spread, and some of the branches be left to hang gracefully. This they will do if they are allowed to do so. I have four Mme. Alfred Carriore bushes, two of which have not been pruned for many years. One of these bushes Is about 33 feet high, and the other Is about 30 feet high. A view of them In full bloom would, I think, convince any one that climbing roses should not be pruned. I was compelled to shorten the two other bushes because they grew higher than the trellis. That climbers should not be pfuncd Is the recommendation In nearly all books on roses which I havo seen. Climbing Roses Should Be Planted. In order to beautify Portland, great quantities of climbing roses should be planted, against fences and. near the houses. If planted near the house, a high trellis may be erected or a frame work made of three-quarer-lnch galvan ized pipe, whloh can be made by any plumber. When this latter frame-work is placed in position, wire-netting may .be hung from it and securely fastened at the bottom. The roses will climb against this netting, or against the trellis, and in the Spring the shoots and branches can be easily tied to the netting or to the trellis. Climbing- roses require comparatively little care, except the Marechal NlaL This rose requires a great deal of care and attention, and results are often disap pointing. The care and attention neces sary for one Marechal Niel bush will take care of several of the other climbing varieties. In this climate nearly all the varieties are sufficiently hardy, even those which In most places in this lati tude in the United States are considered too delicate to grow in the open. The two climbing roses I would espe cially' recommend are Madame Alfred Carrjere and Glorie de Dljoa. There are now climbing roses of nearly all colors known to roses. The names of the differ ent varieties are too numerous to be mentioned in this article. Many of the bush varieties have produced climbing "sport3." These shoots have an unusually strong growth, and become well-known varieties of climbing roses. Any cata logue will give you the names of these roses. A climbing Caroline Testout has been originated In California, whichVis said to possess all the other qualities of the bush variety. The Climbing Kaiserin Aug. Victoria (nicknamed Mrs. Robert Peary) is .also a very fine climber here Most climbing roses cje' Inexpensive, and many a humble cottago could be made an attractive place, and If the cot tage has not been painted for many years It would not be known, for tho roses will completely cover the cottage. In planting a climbing rosa it Is well ANNUALS leus, the Centurea Margaritae, the Cent. Odorata and the Cent, de Albata. There are no showier flowers than these, and those interested In annuals should not fall to have them In their gardens. If these plants are placed In a rich soil in a sunny position, they bloom profusely, and cannot be too highly recommended. The yellow and pink varieties are partic ularly pretty. A bed of these bordered with the dwarf phlox (Phllox Duomondii) makes a very striking effect. The phlox varieties come is yellow and white, and all shades of red, from the light flesh tones to th.e dark maroons. They grow easily from seed, and are easily culti vated. t Gilliflower. An old-fashioned annual for the garden which cannot be surpassed for brilliancy of coloring, fragrance, profusion And du ration is the Stock or Gilliflower. They bloom six weeks after they are sown and keep on blooming until Winter. "A large garden with plenty of corners to be filled in. or beds to be filled up Is made very effective by planting stock la great abundance. New Annual From Southwest Africa. A remarkably handsome new annual from Southwest Africa Is the Arctotls Grandis. The plant Is a bush two or three feet high, with many branches, and the flowers are large .and showy, being pure white on tho upper surface, embellished with yellow zone, and the reverso of the Frederick V. Holman Tells Exactly How This Important Work Should Be Done. S A STANDARD H. P. ROSE; THE SAME to. dig a large and somewhat' deep hole, say four feet square and three feet deep. Fill this hole with rich garden soil, or top soil from a meadow, and well-rotted manure, and it will require no further treatment for many years. The southeastern part of France, near Nice, and the northwestern part of Ital7, near Genoa, are commonly spoken of as tho'RIvlera. It has almost the same lati tude as Portland. . the difference being less than a degree. It is famous for its mild climate and beautiful surroundings. It Is a favorite Winter resort for English people. In the Riviera great numbers of climbing roses are grown. These are one of the charms of tho Riviera, and the blooming of these climbing roses attracts largo numbers of tourists every year. Ail varieties of climbing roses grown in the Riviera can be grown in Portland with practically no protection, and. will bloom as well as In the Riviera. It would make Portland famous as a rose city If climb ing roses were grown In great quantities, and it would also be a source of great pleasure to the Portland people. It is still a llttlo early to .plant roses, except very strong, root-budded, dormant plants, or field-grown bushes. It will probably be several weeks yet before the soil and the weather are suitable for planting roses grown in hot-houses. " If small plants are obtained directly from the hot-houses. It is well not to- plant them until the weather is somewhat set tled, and it has become warm. Planting such roses too early is "making haste without speed." New Varieties of Roses. I have been asked to give a list of good new roses, which are not mentioned in the Portland Rose Society's pamphlet, "Roses at Portland. Oregon; and How to Grow Them." I give even the following short list with some hesitation. I have tried many new varieties the past few years. Most of them have been disap pointing, and I have discarded them. Some have given promise, but, like pre cocious children, have failed to "make good." Some new roses have come to stay, and yet the chances as to any one new rose being a fine rose, so as to be come an universal favorite, are largely against It. The following new roses, I believe, are really roses of superior qual ity. I have tried them, and, so far 1 have found them very satisfactory, and, yet. any or all of them may ultimately be discarded. I suggest them, I do not war rant them. They are: " Prince de Bulgarie, a hybrid-tea, i3 a rose in form similar to Sbuv. de Presi dent Carnot, but having a center of a very beautiful salmon-pink. It i3 said to have been awarded the first prize at the last Paris Exposition. It Is spoken of very highly, both in the English and American catalogues. It was originated by Pernet Ducher, of France. Franz Deegen. a hybrid-tea. Is a seed ling from that grand rose Kaiserin Au gusta Victoria. Its outer petite are about the color of the Perle des Jardlns, while the center is of a beautiful orange yellow. If it fulfills its promises It will be tho yellow garden rose of the immediate fu ture. It Is a different rose from Perle Von Godesberg. which is said to be a sport from Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. The latter I have not tried, but some of A PRACTICAL FLORIST MAKES A PLEA FOR FLOWERS THAT NEED LITTLE CULTIVATION petals a pale-HIac-blue. It Is of easy cul ture, and blooms constantly from early Summer until lato Fall. Thi3 beautiful plant should not be overlooked by any gardener. It may be sown In a sheltered position, or young plants may be had from the florist. Another favorite and profusely bloom ing plant is the Browallia (Amtheyst). It is covered with beautiful winged flowers during the entire Summer and Fall, sup plying shades of red, white and blue (on separate plants), which are very uncom mon. It grows freely In any soiland If this plant were known better; it would find room In many gardens. It should be sown lh April, as It Is a very steady grower. A splendid annual Is the Galllardla (Blanket Flower). It Is remarkable for the profusion, size and brilliancy of the blooms, which continue from early Sum mer until late November. It Is good for beds, borders or cuttings. The plan'a grow about six Inches tall. California Poppy. There are also quite a number of peren nial species of this genus, which are equally valuable for the garden. Annual varieties sown in April in sandy soil will bloom In June or July. Any one having- a rough piece of ground, which they would like to beautify without expense, can ac complish it by sowing a few ounces of California Poppy seed broadcast. This will have the derfred effect, for a field of beautiful bloom will soon repay him. Sin ROSE PRUNED AND UNTRTTNED. the catalogues say its color is not aa satisfactory as Its introducer announced, which was that It is a yellow Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. Franz Deegen was originated In Germany, but it was intro duced in this country by Messrs. E. G. Hill & Co., wholesale florists, Richmond. Ind. It has taken many prizes in thi3 country. Souvenir de Pierre Nottlng is a tea rose, said to be a cross between Marechal NIet and Maman Cochet. It is a very vigorous grower, inclining tq a climbing habit. It is a peculiar shade of deep apricot yellow, with orange yellow shading. It was orig inated by Soupert & Nottlng, of France. It has been awarded several gold medals In Europe. This rose must not be con founded with the old. well-known hybrrd perpetual "rose. Pierre Nottlng. Mile. Germalne Trochon i3 a hybrid tea. It has long, shapely buds. Its color ing is hard to describe. Its general tone Is yellowish, with golden and reddish col orings in the center. This rose has not been widely advertised until this year. It Is a rose of great promise. Each of these four new roses are strong growers. It Is unfortunate that many beautiful new roses, such as White Lady, are of such weak growth. Madame Derepa3-Matrat so far I have found to be very unsatisfactory in growth and in flower. I have ten plants of it. This is the new rose which one of tho Eastern rosegrowers nicknamed "Yellow Maman Cochet," and advertised it as be longing to the Cochet family. It does not belong to that family. It is not even a step-child of that family. It Is not a foundling, for it has a name of its own and a respectable mother. I have tried It for two years. I shall give it another trial this year. If it does not do better the coming season. I shall discard it. There are several new roses of great merit which have been- introduce1 in Europe, but are not yet on sale by tho retail florists in this country. The most noted of these new roses Is Mildred Grant, a hybrid-tea. It was originated by Alexander Dickson & Sons, Limited of Newtqwnards. Ireland, and sent out by them in 1901. They are now the best rosa originators In the world. Almost every one of their roses is of unusual excel lence and beauty. They say It is tha finest rose that they have originated. Ono of England's most noted amateur rosar ians has written me of Its beauty. It 13 described by its originator in their cata logue as: "Clear, silvery white, edge of petals shaded and bordered with pink; blooms are of enormous size and sub stance, with high-pointed center, and last long in good condition? the petals, which are of unusual length, are perfectly shell shaped and very massive." I am In formed that there has been such a de mand by the Eastern florists to obtain plants of Mildred Grant for growlnglts roses under glass that none have been raised for the retail trade. It is to be hoped It will be on sale to the public la 1905. I have been fortunate enough-vto procure several bushes of Mildred Grant direct from the originators. I am trying a number of new and un tried roses in Oregon, which I have pro cured from Europe. If any are of un usual excellence I shall be pleased to give the names. FREDERICK V. HOLMAN. gle petunias would probably answer tha same purpose, as they can stand a good deal of neglect, but they have to be sown in boxes and transplanted twice, so .are much more trouble than the poppies. Double petunias are also very showy and excellent bloomers, but they also tako a good deal of transplanting. Lobelia erimls- Is the best of all. Tha Intensely blue blooms may be seen through the entire Summer, and as an artistic border it cannot be surpassed. The Alys sum for white is very goodf and may be sown in rills in the bed where wanted, and if cut before the flowers go to seed, it will bloom the second time. There are innumerable otner species of annuals which any one may learn by studying- the seed catalogues of good deal ers. Nowhere In the country do they thrive better than right here In Western Oreg'on. and we should all take a great pride in cultivating them In quantities. Our fair wilr-sOon be at hand, and tho many people who will come here from all over the country will come mainly for tho purpose of seeing the country and investi gating Its resources and our climate. I they see our city a perfect field ot bloom ing plants, they will be Impressed by the climate and the productiveness of the soil. A very little labor on tho part of each property-holder will add a great deal to the general appearance of our city. Roses are beautiful, and their culture should everywhere be encouraged but why not the -annuals at the same time? Sweet peas and nasturtiums are generally grown, and are always" beautiful, but why culti vate them to the exclusion of all othera7 GEORGE OTTEN.