Question
QUESTION: We have an extensive rose garden 50 miles from NYC in Pennsylvania, have had for many years, usually have to replace few bushes each spring.  This past month, plants started getting curled red/yellow leaves (esp on new growth), leaves wilting and falling and noticed parts of the ground turned orange/rust color.  This spread fairly rapidly over all four quadrants of the garden (separated by gravel walkways).  Initially, took off diseased parts and sprayed with fungicide.  Still kept spreading so cut virtually all bushes down and soaked roots with fungicide solution.

ANSWER: I wish I was wrong but I am sure I am right Michael, in that you have Rose Rosette. This is a deadly disease caused by a mite. These mites attack one rose and are then born on the air to other roses nearby. They cause an infection and the rose is slowly killed. Because of the seriousness of this question, I have been in touch with the foremost adviser on Rose Rosette who has also written extensively about the disease. They will be getting back to me on the best way to handle your problem. I should warn you that they may recommend that some of the roses be burned. However there are things that you can do first. Cygon has been banned in some states but perhaps not in yours. This is a systemic type insecticide which enters into the sap of the rose and when the mites feds it ingests the poison and is killed.
http://www.ars.org/About_Roses/disease_rosette1.html
There have been new developments in the Rose Rosette disease but the photos here are the best on the web for identifying the disease. Please stay in touch as I would appreciate you looking at the pictures in case it isn't Rose Rosette. Hopefully I have misjudged the symptoms.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I definitely think you nailed it, based on the pictures.  I'm trying to get hold of cygon.  If successful, should I treat every bush, should I take any bushes out, do I also need to treat the ground.  As for all the parts already removed, do I need to burn them.
Thanks a million for your quick response.  I really had my doubts about rust because the roses didn't respond to the recommended treatment.

Answer
Yes, every single rose bush should be treated as the mites could be on it. It can take up to 6 weeks to a year for the mites damage to show so prevention is a must. Spray Cygon 7 days apart and then monthly until leaf fall. Start the spray again next spring when the roses leaf out. The mites are usually active for about two months in the hottest part of the summer. It may be in June and July in your area so you can stop the monthly spray say in August. Also make sure you spray all around the base of the rose bushes as that is where the eggs will be. Do be careful of Cygon as a systemic spray easily goes into the skin.
It is sometimes difficult to get right down in the tiny crevices of a rose bush, so before the leaves are out in the spring and after pruning, try spraying the bushes with a horticultural oil. I am told that Canola Lite cooking oil also works well and is much cheaper.
As you have read, the host plant for this mite is rosa multiflora, a species that some gardeners like to grow as a plant, is used a lot for budding a rose onto. Budding doesn't cause any problems unless the mites are in the understock. It will be the rose multiflora bush that is dangerous.
The main problem in your garden could be the mites are only in the canes. Your hard pruning may have helped considerable. The biggest problem is when it gets down to the roots. When it is down there, although it doesn't travel through the soil, it will fast and vigoursly throw up infected canes. Digging the plant out is the only option but if you leave even a tiny amount of root, when you plant a rose in the hole, mites infect the new rose.
Your rose cuttings will be filled with mites, many of which have no doubt escaped and headed towards your rose garden. By all means burn them as this is the only way you can kill them.
There is a possibility that your problem in your garden is too advanced. Please be prepared for the final solution which will entail burning all the roses and removing a lot of soil. Rose Rosette is the most horrible rose disease to get because so many people aren't looking for it. When they see the red growth it simply looks like common reddish new growth leaves. By the time they realize it is not normal, it is too late. Rose Rosette spreads with a fury and gets out of hand very quickly. Please keep in touch. I will check with those that are in the know in case something new has come along to solve your problem.