88 , THE FLORIST. 



not be carried to extremes ; but I know this, that night-soil in a raw 

 state may (where practicable) be laid on the beds of Roses in the 

 winter season, not only without injury, but with the best possible 

 results, which, I think, cannot be said of many other plants. It is, 

 however, scarcely ever practicable on many accounts, and judgment 

 must be used in the application of such strong measures as I have 

 mentioned. 



The amateur will find the following an excellent compost for 

 growing his Roses. About the month of October, take a quantity of 

 the top-soil of an old pasture, or any sweet maiden loam (propor- 

 tioned to the number of beds to be made), which is rather stiff than 

 otherwise, laying it up, with the sods among it, in a heap ; then add 

 an equal portion of old, stale, rotten manure, such as has been used 

 as linings for the forcing-pits the preceding spring, and have them 

 well mixed with a spade, chopping up the sods into pieces about two 

 inches square, and laying the compost again in a heap ; and in order 

 to allow the frost to get thoroughly into it, have the heap periodi- 

 cally turned over, and any large sods which may have escaped the 

 eye chopped up ; let there be occasionally thrown over the compost 

 a few pails of liquid drainings from the dunghill, or the refuse water 

 from the dwelling-house, if the former be difficult to obtain. In 

 about March the compost will be ready for use, and should then be 

 transferred into the beds, after first having it sifted through a coarse 

 riddle, the stones and rubbish taken out, and those parts of the sods 

 which have not decayed laid apart to form the basis and foundation 

 of the beds. Let the sods be put in at once, but the soil to form 

 the main part of the bed will be benefited by lying to sweeten till 

 the plants are ready to put in. As the soil will sink more or less 

 according to the quantity and quality of the manure, let the beds be 

 made somewhat higher than they are intended to remain when they 

 are filled with Roses, and avoid having them laid up in a very rounded 

 form, or the water in summer will be unequally distributed to the 

 roots, the edges of the beds getting an undue share of moisture, and 

 the crown left dry. I need give no directions as to putting in the 

 plants, as that depends so much on the size of the beds and the 

 taste of the grower, but bearing in mind that the larger plants be in 

 the centre. I think there cannot be a better time than the present 

 for transferring the plants (which, of course, ought to have been 

 potted all the winter) into their respective situations, as the hard 

 frosts may now be said to be past. 



As I have been led into longer detail than I expected in giving 

 the amateur my idea of the best soil for Roses, I must defer till next 

 month my letter on the varieties of Autumnal Roses adapted for 

 bedding. 



^ R. P. 



