jammga. 



BULTjBTIN 



OF THK 



DEPARTMENT OF AliRICULTURE. 



Vol. III. APRIL, 1905. Part 4. 



ROSES. 



By Walter Jekyll. 



We live in a favoured land. Take up any English or American 

 book on practical gardening, and it will be found that a great 

 part of it is devoted to precautions against frost. Here we are 

 spared both the thing and the precautions. Except for special 

 purposes, such as showing, it may be said that no cultural direc- 

 tions for growing roses are necessary. Possibly, however, a few 

 hints and reflections, together with a judicious modicum of warn- 

 ing may be found useful. 



Let us suppose, then, that we have a few rose-plants, whether 

 from our own cuttings or the gift of kind friends, or a consign- 

 ment from a nurseryman. We will assume that sufficiently large 

 holes have been dug at adequate distances — above all, not too 

 close, which is the usual mistake — and that these have been filled 

 again with soil (probably the same soil), and that this soil is suffi- 

 ciently free, i.e. not sticky, so that it will clog the tender rootlets 

 and prevent their growth. If it is so, there is no particular need 

 to add any enrichment ; indeed, an artificially-enriched soil will 

 be a hindrance at first, and fresh manure positively injurious and 

 probably fatal. Handle your young plant tenderly, as you would 

 any baby thing, and if you have no experience, call in a coffee or 

 orange planter to show how the rootlets should be gently spread 

 out and the covering earth laid lightly over them. Do not press 

 the soil down at all ; a good watering will settle it sufficiently. 

 Then shade with any handy small stuff, taking care that the plant 

 is left airy. If it is winter, put the shading on the east, south and 

 west sides, leaving the north side open ; if spring, be extra care- 

 ful about the head shading, if summer, the south side will be left 



