32G THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



of labour. Besides, this sort of work should be done quickly, for we 

 do not get much fine weather at the time for planting roses, and it 

 does them much mischief to lay about : the sooner their roots are 

 covered the better. By the system of merely placing them with a 

 shovelful of stuff over the roots, the whole lot can be got into their 

 places quickly, and come rain, frost, snow, or what else, they cannot 

 suffer; they are safe, and if not finished for a week or two no harm 

 can arise. But I do not counsel delay ; the true rosarian will never 

 shilly-shally when planting is the order of the day. The sooner the 

 whole job is finished the better ; but if every individual tree is 

 finished right out at once, some may suffer through laying about 

 with perhaps their roots not half covered ; and at the best it is cer- 

 tain that a few will have to be lifted to get them all in such order as 

 will satisfy an eye at all fastidious about arrangements. 



Many years ago I advocated the use of iron stakes for rose-trees. 

 Some growers contend that iron stakes do harm, and they go on 

 using oak stakes instead. Now, I am certain, from long observation 

 and experience, that iron stakes do no harm, and that oak stakes, 

 and, in fact, any kind of timber supports, are really injurious, and 

 many a rose-tree is killed by the spread of fungus over its roots, 

 through contact with decaying wood. Once in three years we boil 

 up a cauldron of tar and pitch, thrust the ends of the iron stakes 

 into the fire that boils the pot, and when the ends are rather hot dip 

 them into the mixture. Two coats of paint on the length of the rod 

 finishes them ; they can be placed close to the stems of the trees, 

 care being taken in thrusting them down not to drive them through 

 the thick roots near the collar, and when the trees are tied up the 

 stakes are almost invisible. 



The pruning can be finished any time before the 1st of March. 

 It may be done as soon as the planting is finished, and before the 

 trees are staked, for although winter pruning is not good for esta- 

 blished roses, because it tends to make them grow too soon in spring, 

 roses newly planted have enough check to prevent that, and autumn 

 or winter pruning will not hurt them. 



It is of the utmost importance for the full enjoyment of a plan- 

 tation of roses to have them legibly and correctly labelled. If the 

 calico labels the nurserymen put on are allowed to flutter in the 

 wind all winter, the chances are that the writing will be washed out 

 before spring. Therefore, to complete the labelling quickly is a 

 matter of considerable importance. There are a thousand ways of 

 forming and attaching labels to trees. I can find nothing better 

 than wooden labels smeared with white lead, and written on with a 

 pencil while the paint is soft. Attach these with a copper wire, and 

 take care not to cut the bark of the tree, and leave the wire loose 

 enough for the tree to swell. Once a year look at every label, and 

 keep a list of all the sorts, in which you may make notes of their 

 characters and behaviour. 



A SELECTION OE EIRST-CLASS ROSES THAT ELOWER EREELT IN LATE 

 SUMMER AND AUTUMN, AND IN MILD SEASONS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. 



Hybrid Perpetuate. — Adolphe Brongniart, Baron Haussmann, Boule de Neige, 

 Charles Turner, Comte Raimbaud, Duchesse d'Aotte, Duke of Edinburgh, Dupny 



