Amateurs and professional gardeners throughout the country are conducting experiments with antibiotics in horticulture.
In applying them to rose cuttings, I was doing nothing new, nor was I interested in an elaborate test with the ensuing controls and inspections.
Rather, I was seeking results prompted solely by my impatience. Natural processes seemed too slow. If my cuttings could be stimulated to grow faster, I knew I would get a quicker bloom.
The subjects chosen were rambler rose cuttings about 6” inches long, placed in sand under gallon glass jars in mid-June 1955.
In about four weeks, these cuttings showed new leaves and were transplanted to baskets of soil and taken from Germantown, Pennsylvania, to the seashore at Avalon, New Jersey.
Mildew No Problem
Ramblers grow well in the hot seashore sun which seems to prevent the usual mildew we associate with ramblers. Although extremely heavy dew occurs at night, there is practically no mildew on my roses.
I selected rambler cuttings because I am collecting all the old ramblers I can find from various parts of the country.
Some I have imported under permit from England and Ireland. Many cannot be purchased today but are to be found in old gardens.
First Impression Of Roses
As a boy, my first impressions of roses were the hybrid perpetual like General Jacqueminot and the Crimson Rambler. Nearly every porch in our neighborhood was partly covered with its brilliant bright crimson clusters, and the rambler fad swept the country.
Originally imported into England from Japan, where it was called “Ten Sisters,” it became known in England as the “Engineer’s Rose.” After it was brought to America in 1893 by Elhvanger and Barry, it was called the Crimson Rambler.
Next came the pink Dorothy Perkins and many others whose names are little known today. It is these that I am interested in collecting.
Over 100 different ramblers range in color from white, and near white, to pink, crimson, red, violet, and amethyst.
But where are the ramblers of yesteryear? They are gone with the mildew, I fear, but beautiful if grown where plenty of ventilation can reach them. Strangely enough, this grayish deposit on the leaves does not seem to interfere with the bloom.
Use Of Antibiotics
When I began to use antibiotics, I was told that I would get long, spindly canes. Yet, I did not find this exactly true since considerable side and base growth were also produced.
Antibiotic treatment was given as soon as the rose cuttings were planted in the seashore sand. First, a small capsule of Terramycin was dissolved in 50 ccs of water. This was diluted from one part to a million.
Not being a chemist meant a whole evening with an eye dropper. However, it works out to one drop to two buckets, and this dilution seemed fantastic to me.
However, I am now using two drops in a bucket, and I believe I could increase the amount to 10 parts to a million without undue chlorosis or bleaching of the plants.
Served As A Stimulant Or Tonic
I have read that antibiotics are not plant foods but serve as a stimulant or a tonic and should be applied in conjunction with plant food. For this purpose, I used a foliar spray, applying it according to the instructions on the container.
I fed each plant a paper cupful, one application every two weeks. Root feeding seemed to give better and quicker results than foliar spraying since the cuttings had not yet acquired their full foliage.
By September 1955, I had canes over 5’ feet tall, making it necessary to tie them to support. Some were above my head at the end of October, and I had to use a step ladder to reach the tops.
Phenomenal results were obtained not only with the ramblers but also with one-year-old climbers, purchased in the spring of 1955, which produced a good amount of bloom.
Foliar Feeding
I have used foliar feeding on my roses in previous years without antibiotics and had good results. I became so enthusiastic over the results of my foliar feeding that I fed and sprayed most of the nearby plants, including camellias and hibiscus, with equally good results.
As a comparison, 50 rambler cuttings planted in July 1955 that received no fertilizer or solution of any kind lived one winter under glass jars but made little growth.
Foliar Feeding
In my Germantown garden, I grow about 800 roses of various kinds. Then, by using an attachment, I feed the liquid fertilizer and the antibiotic solution into the garden hose.
My practice has been to spray each of the four beds for an hour every two weeks. Thus, the plants were thoroughly soaked with foliar solution, which permeated to the roots.
Although the first application was made after the peak of June bloom, heavy growth continued into the fall, with ample new growth starting as though it were spring again.
The treatment was terminated in late August to allow the new growth to harden off before the cold weather. Next year I intend to start this spraying much earlier.
Difficulty With Black Spots
Since I have had very little difficulty growing roses with black spots, I seldom use a preventive spray at any time in my garden.
However, since foliar feeding and antibiotics have kept my roses healthy, I think this rose culture phase needs to be explored.
Healthy plants are better able to throw off diseases, and certainly, this treatment gives plants the appearance of health.
Foliar Feeding and Antibiotics
As an amateur rose grower, I have enjoyed my experiences with foliar feeding and antibiotics. Foliar plant food is easy to obtain. Terramycin costs little and is so simple to apply. I buy a small capsule for 15 cents at the drugstore and dilute it as described.
More home gardeners should try these simple experiments and make these discoveries for themselves.
44659 by George E. Lippincott