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Re: roses

     The following are two recent basic hybridizing
articles.  
                                              Try Hybridizing 

                                             By Rich Hall CR

   Reprinted from the March 1996 issue of the Voice Of The Rose,
the newsletter of the Rose Society of Greater St. Louis, Bob
Nix, editor.  

      Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create
your very own rose?  It's really not as hard as you might think.

      Just select two of your favorite bushes that have a bloom
on each that is about half-way open.  Carefully remove all the
petals from them.  Now with a small pair of scissors, or a sharp
razor knife, remove the anthers and put them in separate
containers.  (I use little black containers I get when buying
film).  Within two to three days the stigmas will become sticky
and be ready for pollination.  Next, take the containers, which
you should have labeled, and shake them really good.  This will
shake loose the pollen, and it will generally stick to the sides
where you can see it.  With your finger, wipe the pollen from
the inside of the canister and put it on the stigmas. I do this
for a couple of days to make sure I hit everything at the right
time.  Sometimes, the stigmas may take a little longer to become
ready. Next, and most important of all, tag and label your buds.
 This way, when your spouse is out cutting off spent blooms, you
won't lose any of your crosses!  ( It's happen to me).

       Some hybridizers cover their buds, while others don't,
it's really up to you.  I don't find many bees on my roses
without petals.  If the pollination takes ... the hip will start
to swell in a few weeks. Continue to spray and water as you
normally do.  When the buds become ripe - they will have swelled
up and will start turning yellow to orange, red and brown.  Now
- cut off the hip and carefully cut it open to remove all the
seeds.  Wash and wipe all the fuzz off of them.  Now, take a
baggie - or I like to use the little clear plastic tubs I get
from the store deli and put in some moist medium. (I use
Pro-Mix) Mix in the seeds and label the baggie or tub and put it
in the refrigerator.  After about six to eight weeks - you can
take them out.  (I have actually had them sprout in the
refrigerator because of the kids opening the door so much and
having the light come on and stay on for awhile).   I have
several flats that I save when I buy bedding plants in the
spring. 

     I fill them with Pro-Mix and water real good.  Then I put
the seeds in, one in each section, and push them down just under
the surface.  Cover them with some clear wrap and place in a
sunny location or under grow lights.  You should continue to
keep everything labeled so you'll know what crosses are which. 
Not all of the seeds will sprout.  Some will sprout and might
die-off in a few weeks, but the ones that continue to grow will
show their results in a couple of months.  Later on, in the
growing season, you can bud them up on some root stock or leave
them on their own.   Now ... I'm not saying you'll end up with a
AARS winner - but who knows?  One thing I do know - you will
have your very own rose that no one else has. A creation all
your own - which you can register and enter in shows - or just
keep in your garden to admire and show to your friends.  Why not
try ... it takes very little time and work ... and your rewards?

 ----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

                     HYBRIDIZING ROSES FOR FUN

                 by Joe Mirilovich, ARF Consulting Rosarian

     Reprinted from the May/June, 1996 issue of The Arlington
Rose Review, newsletter of the Arlington Rose Foundation, Joseph
Mirilovich, editor.

     Everything I know about hybridizing roses I learned from
Mark Spies, a former ARF member and amateur hybridizer, who
produced the award winning pink miniature rose Cupcake. This
remarkable little rose was introduced in 1981 and it is still in
commerce today. According to Mark, "Hybridizing is interesting,
educational and suspenseful. You never know what the crosses
will bring until the first bud on the seedling plant opens."

     The month of June is a good time to begin hybridizing.  Our
rose gardens are generally full of bloom; and therefore, the
choices for parents are many. Try to select parents that will
pass on desirable traits. I've heard that the Hybrid Tea Brandy
and the Floribunda Sexy Rexy tend to pass on disease resistance
to their offspring. The miniature rose Jean Kenneally sets seed
quite easily and therefore may be a superior choice for a female
parent. Once you've decided on parents, pollination is the next
task. Mark's method is quite simple; the following steps are
basic to his process:

     1. A female parent is selected and a bud is chosen which is
ready to open but the petals are still rather tightly closed.

     2. All the petals are removed to expose the central groups
of pistils (female parts) surrounded by the stamens (male parts
carrying the pollen). At this time the tips of the pistils are
still dry and there will be no pollen at the tips of the
stamens. A 10 power magnifying glass is useful here.

     3. Next all the stamens are removed, using tweezers, so
that now only the pistils remain. Care must be taken to be sure
that no stamens remain to produce pollen which could cause self
pollination.

     4. The flower with only the pistils remaining is then
tightly covered with a small paper bag or a plastic envelope to
prevent pollination by bees or air. Within a day or two the
pistils will exude a sticky substance which indicates that they
are ready to receive pollen. This can be observed with the
magnifying glass.

     5. We will now prepare the male flower to secure the pollen
required to fertilize the female parent. The flower for this
process is usually selected at the same time as the female
flower. Since we only need the stamens for producing the pollen,
the pistils are carefully removed using the tweezers. After two
days the pollen can be removed by lightly tapping the flower
over a piece of white paper or by letting it fall into a small
vial. The source of the pollen should be labeled so that it can
later be applied to the intended female parent. A small camel
hair brush can be used to apply the pollen from the vial to the
female parent or (as I do) the pollen can be transferred by
using the index finger to pick it up.

     6. After pollination is completed a tag is attached to the
female parent to identify the parents, the date of the cross,
and to carry a number assigned to the cross. The cover is then
reinstalled to prevent unwanted pollen from reaching the pistils
and as protection from the weather.

     7. The covering can be removed after a week or so. If the
cross is successful, the hip will grow and take on the
appearance of a small green apple. After about three months of
growth the hip will gradually change from a green color to red,
yellow, or brown. The hips are harvested late in November or
early December.

     Amateur hybridizers and potential amateur hybridizers will
find membership in the Rose Hybridizers Association quite
informative on all aspects of rose hybridizing. Contact Larry D.
Peterson, RHA Secretary-Treasurer, 3245 Wheaton Road,
Horseheads, NY 14845 for more information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
----

Henry Kuska KUSKA@NEO.LRUN.COM
 ----
From: Tdrinla@aol.com
To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
Date: Monday, June 09, 1997 4:06 PM
Subject: roses

Hi,
Has anyone here started roses from seed, and what suggestions would you
give?
Thanks!!
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