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Each year the members of the American Rose Society increasingly control the contents of the volume of rose lore which has come to be accepted as the last word in progress and prospect on its fascinating subject. The Editor in 1921 conducted both a spring and a fall referendum among country-wide membership, and from the questions asked and answered he has planned and completed the American Rose Annual for 1922. The claim that this compact, beautiful and effective book of the rose is up-to-date therefore rests on a foundation of fact. More extended discussions of the small rose-gardens are included in two bright articles and many "rose notes." The prosperity and protection of the rose are taken up in detail, the first in two papers on soils and fertilization, both by rose-loving scientists, and the second in by far the most complete discussion ever published on rose diseases and rose insects. No reader of this volume who will follow its simple suggestions need submit to either the mildew or the dreaded "black-spot" that removes the leaves of his pet bushes, or endure any of the insects that hunt the rose. Captain Thomas, who is both critical amateur and careful hybridizer, and who has for more than ten years tested every rose produced anywhere in the world, gives his large experience with both budded and own-root roses, and an enthusiast in Ohio adds some personal experiences with both. Rose production, north and south, east and west in America, and in the hybridizing centers of England, Germany and France, is the basis of five articles and a complete list. In addition, all the new "gold-medal" roses are described by Courtney Page, secretary of the older great world organization, the National Rose Society of England. A novel story is told under the title of "Richmond Children’s Rose Fair," and there are two articles on the detailed handling of small rose shows, which the Editor seeks to promote. "A community Flower Show in Kansas City" tells of a new scheme for rose enjoyment. Ideals sought in new roses are set forth in some ten or more statements by the critical amateur and professional rosarians of the nation. There is an account of the work of the recently deceased Dr. W. Van Fleet, a hybridizer of roses, blight-proof chestnuts, strawberries, etc., whose results are of far more value than any reached by Luther Burbank. Details are given of a novel contract arranged by the American Rose Society with the Federal Department of Agriculture for the wide distribution of some marvelous new roses of Van Fleet origination, in which enter the wonderful Chinese native sorts never before worked with by any hybridizer. Many more articles and items on rose progress are in this volume, which gives the point of view not only of the amateur but of the professional. A story of a rose failure, almost dramatic in its quality, is illustrated with a lovely color-plate, which serves to show that commercial ideals for roses in America are far higher than in Europe. Another color-plate shows the exquisite new rose, Mrs. George C. Thomas, which won two gold medals at the Portland test-garden, where are tried out not merely the roses of Oregon but of all the world. There are also sixteen sepia plates of rose subjects, each recording an advance of some sort. More than a hundred rose-lovers all over the world have done their best to make this 1922 American Rose Annual what it is—a readable, accurate, comprehensive record of rose progress, necessary to every man or woman who wants to keep up with the queen of flowers and help bring it to even greater popularity. The American Rose Annual is mailed without extra charge to all members of the American Rose Society. It is not purchasable in bookstores. |