“Just listen!” exclaimed Mary Frances, “Billy, don’t you feel repaid for giving us the lesson? What comes next?”
“Next comes—let me see,” replied Billy. “Oh, yes, it’s about planting and caring for roses, I remember.”
“When will you give us that?” asked Eleanor.
“Does it tell about ‘Tree Roses?’” asked Mary Frances eagerly before Billy could answer Eleanor.
“I’ll tell you now,” he said, “about—
Tree Roses
Tree Roses are Hybrid Perpetual or Hybrid Tea or other roses, budded or grafted high up on strong stock, or wild growth, and cut or pruned to the form of trees.
They are very attractive in a formal or “set out” garden, or for edging walks, but such great care must be taken to keep them warm during cold weather that it is best not to try them except in places where there is little snow in winter.
For winter bed covers, place boards around the plant and fill with earth.
“Miss Gardener said,” went on Billy, “that English and Irish rose growers are constantly sending new varieties of roses over to Americans, but the new roses have to be tested in our climate before we can be certain if they will do well here. That’s all the lesson for to-day,” he declared. “Come to-morrow morning for the next lesson—that is, if you want to. The day after, you know, we go on the Wild Flower Picnic.”