A friend's aunt was thought by doctor(s) to have died of spraying her roses.

You can find the F.F. Rockwell books in used book stores from time to time. Besides the rose book, there was a general gardening book, one on home vegetable gardens, one on bulbs, and one on rock gardens. I have the edition published in 1966, and it was one of the first rose books I ever read, from cover to cover, avidly. Hopelessly out of date now as to chemicals, but still full of useful general information, and with a surprising inclusion of a chapter on old roses.

The formula recommended for a general regular spray were these:

malathion
methoxychlor
Phaltan
Benlate
Karathane

Except for Benlate, I think they may all still be available. What is different I think is today's philosophy of IPM, least toxic measures first, and not using insecticides unless you see a problem. Those among us who are organic gardeners find even that position too extreme. And yes, protective clothing by all means, at least a mask and long sleeves.

Still, I have real affection for the pleasure and information this book has given to me. Not to mention that it is beautifully bound, an object of craftsmanship in itself. That is worth a lot of today's eye candy in my lights.

Rosefolly, I'm surprised that the 1966 formula uses methoxychlor instead of DDT, which was still legal. If the dusting guy in the picture were from the 1930s or earlier, the dust would likely have contained arsenate of lead.

MichaelG, the author mentions that DDT and mercuries have recently been outlawed in several states, and that several other pesticides are on a restricted list to be used only by a registered pesticide user. I seems to me that he was being conscientious given the knowledge of the times. It also makes me wonder how many chemicals we regard as safe today will horrify our descendants.

Rosefolly

Rosefolly, I have the 'updated' from 1966 as well.
I think their method of pruning an overgrown "Harrison's
Yellow" is one I have never seen, but makes perfect
sense. Lot's of good info on many of the Brownells.

I have also "The Complete Book of Flower Arrangement"
by Rockwell and Grayson from '48, given as a gift to
someone, with the sad note inside the cover-

"To Dorothy from Ruth, in memory of Melissa,
who was always grateful for a few daisies stolen
from the U. of W.(?) campus."

alida

Then there's the use of poudrette as a fertilizer mentioned (if I remember correctly) in Georgia Torrey Drennan's book.
The word poudrette above is missing a diacritical mark of some sort as well as a coating of carbon black.

Diacritical mark as in Milorganité?

Oui, Oui.

I have two volumes of gardening questions and answers according to area of horticulture ( ranging from houseplants to pruning to fruit trees, and so on) from the 1940's. They have a section about roses and blackspot and share pretty much the same information you hear nowadays, but there was far more questions about hybrid teas and what sprays you should use.

They talked an awful lot about boxwoods and yews though.

One of my treasures is a six volume edition of The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture by L.H. Bailey, published in 1922. My father gave it to me. I believe he picked it up for a dollar a volume at a library used book sale. The rose entry is nearly forty pages long, but I value it most as a portrait of the garden world 85 years ago. Later editions of this work were in three volumes, not six.