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MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 131 
will not pack with repeated rains and snows, permits air to 
circulate around the plants and still breaks the force of se- 
vere drying winds, and that prevents the rays of the sun 
from striking the rose stems. Before applying such a cov- 
ering of loose material, the soil may be mounded around the 
base of the plants. There is some objection, but not a serious 
one, to using such material on account of the seeds it con- 
tains. The lower figure of plate 38 shows a method of pro- 
tecting climbing roses against a south wall. In this case 
straw mats were used, but other materials, such as_ sacks, 
burlap, long grasses or corn fodder, are possible. Climbing 
roses against a south wall are subject to more injury than 
climbers in the open. 
Barrels and boxes are sometimes inverted over rose plants 
and a few dry leaves thrown around them. It is better to 
leave the containers open on the north side to permit free 
air circulation. Dry leaves are ideal for protecting roses if 
a waterproof covering is placed over them. Exposed beds, 
with leaves for covering, become soggy towards spring and 
much damage may result from rot. Strawy manure placed 
around rose bushes will also act as a sponge if left exposed. 
Straw and the other coarse materials mentioned are to be 
preferred. 
The hybrid perpetual or June roses, and the polyantha or 
baby rambler roses need no protection. However, a little 
coarse material thrown over the plants will do no harm and 
prevents the loss of any in severe winters. Most of the 
climbing roses survive our normal winters without any pro- 
tection, but if protection is desired, the plants should be 
shielded, particularly on the south side, to prevent the sun 
from reaching the stems. 
In the late winter, some time in February or March, we 
usually have a few mild days. Most people at such a time 
itch to work in the garden and one of the first rash things 
they do is to pull off all the protecting coverings. This would 
not be a serious act if the material were replaced when the 
weather again grows cold, but usually this is not done and 
thereby the method of successfully carrying the plants 
through the winter is defeated. It is better to let the cov- 
