THE ROSE. ' 59 



SOIL. 



To grow roses successfully a rich soil must be provided. A good 

 fibrous loam of a stiff rather than light nature is the ideal soil. "Where 

 such cannot be obtained, we have to accomplish the purpose by a combi- 

 nation of soils. As a rule most of our large rose places are situated 

 so that they are within easy reach of good soil. The rose is a strong 

 feeder and there is scarcely any soil which will grow roses up to standard 

 without the aid of manure. In most cases one-sixth to one-fifth of man- 

 ure can be safely added. It should be well decomposed and thoroughly 

 mixed through the soil. Bone meal is also used very extensively. I 

 prefer to apply this when soil is on the benches, being then able to dis- 

 tribute it more evenly through the soil with the aid of a hoe. The bone 

 meal can, of course, be added at the same time the manure is, but as 

 we usually have unskilled labor to assist us in this operation, we are 

 apt tiot to have it mixed in the right proportion. I aim to use 150 to 

 200 pounds to a house 25x200 feet. 



Having thus prepared our soil, filled the benches and cleaned the 

 house thoroughly of all rubbish, we are ready to plant our roses. None 

 but the best plants should be taken. We plant fifteen to sixteen inches 

 apart, five rows in a six-foot and four rows in a five-foot bed. The soil 

 must be pressed firmly about the plant and a shallow basin left around it. 

 These insure the plants being watered without watering all over the 

 bench before they have taken hold. It preserves the nourishment in the 

 soil and keeps it from souring. This mode of watering should be fol- 

 lowed till the roots spread all through the bed. 



The plants need stacking and tying soon after they are planted, this 

 being particularly true of the grafted plants. In tying there should 

 always be one or two of the strongest branches brought reasonably close 

 to the wire to insure the plant from shaking around too much or break- 

 ing off while syringing. It is essential that the benches are kept free from 

 weeds and the surface of the soil stirred every two or three weeks to 

 permit the free penetration of the air. 



The best time to plant is when the plants are well established in 

 either three- or four-inch pots. This may be early in the spring or in 

 the latter part of the summer, as the conditions on the place may 

 require. 



I believe in early planting, so that the roses have formed good-sized 

 bushes before fall, in order to produce first-class flowers in the first 

 part of the winter. Later planting than July is not to be recommended 

 where good flowers are wanted during the winter months. Roses planted 

 after that date are usually at their best by March and April. During 

 the summer months, in fact at any time, the rose wants all the air which 

 can possibly be admitted. 



While the rose should always have plenty of moisture about the roots, 

 it is a mistake to keep it too wet, as it brings about a soft, rank growth 

 which will not have enough substance in it to produce a good flower, and 



