324 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



matter to waste money in producing a complication which shall at 

 last prove unsatisfactory, for roses — even if we select the best for 

 bedding purposes — do not comfortably fit into hearts and diamonds, 

 and the rest of the Euclidian vagaries that are to be seen in these 

 days in private gardens. During the month of June, groups of 

 such a kind may be agreeable, but in August considerably less so, 

 and the true bedding plants will certainly have stronger claims to 

 patronage on artistic grounds, whatever may be the peculiar pre- 

 dilection of tbe amateur for roses. I cannot imagine a more simple 

 and effective arrangement for a small collection than that which I 

 adopted fifteen years ago at Stoke Newington. On either side of the 

 walk was a broad piece of ground, with tall privet hedges beyond 

 for background. Next the privet was a narrow walk, and on the line 

 of the walk trellis wires strained to oak posts. Against the trellis 

 were a few climbers, and thence across to the central walk a regular 

 arrangement of standards in lines, with dwarfs next the walk ; the 

 whole scene forming two banks of roses with the walk between. 

 One advantage of such a scheme is that those who like to see a mass 

 of roses in bloom are sure to be gratified. Another advantage of the 

 arrangement is that an inspection of any particular tree may be made 

 without difficulty ; in fact, the rose fancier is sure to take his walks 

 amongst them frequently to criticise and compare, to indulge in 

 occasional raptures, and sometimes — who knows ? — to condemn some 

 of them, and determine on exchanging them for better. Another, 

 and not the least advantage is, that you can call it a rosery without 

 having committed yourself to an arrangement attended with expense, 

 and which cannot be easily altered. A rosery of this kind is, after 

 all, only a couple of broad borders, say 16 feet wide, and as long 

 as may be suitable to the place and the purse of the owner. 



As at this season many amateurs are buying and planting roses, 

 a few suggestions may not be out of place. Brier roses, or in other 

 words, Standards, require a good deep moist loam, well manured 

 and industriously broken up previous to planting. A good clay will 

 suit them if there is no stint of labour in deep digging and breaking 

 up, and manure it as you would for cauliflowers. Dwarfs, whether 

 on own roots or Manettis, require a rather light rich loam, but robust 

 habited roses, such as Jules Margottin, General Jacqueminot, and 

 Anna Alexieff, are not particular, provided they can root deep, and 

 are well fed. Nevertheless, the best way to prepare the ground, if 

 it is a rather stiff loam, is to dress the front line where the dwarfs 

 are to be planted with plenty of leaf-mould and rotten manure ; and 

 if rotted turf can be spared for it, the stuff will not be wasted. But 

 let no one suppose that roses require elaborate preparations ; any 

 soil that will grow a good cabbage will grow a good rose, whether it 

 is a cabbage rose or any other kind. 



To obtain suitable trees is a matter involving no difficulty. A 

 fastidious purchaser will manage to see and mark all the trees, and 

 have the sorts according to a list made out beforehand. But there 

 are very few people who have time to spare to buy roses in that way, 

 and an order sent to any of the first-class trade growers, whose 

 names are known well enough, specifying heights and numbers, and 



