410 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



but as a matter of fact we lost not one. Instead of digging in manure 

 in spring, as usual, we trod the ground firmly — it is rather light — 

 and merely cut off the dead wood, and hoed and raked the ground. 

 Although the summer and the autumn were the coldest and wettest 

 on record, the plants made and ripened a fair growth. The following 

 winter again cut them down ; but as before, they came up — this time 

 strongly. Again the ground was merely firmed and dressed. The 

 summer and autumn ('80) were favourable, and we had a magnificent 

 growth, and the best display we ever had. Last winter also proved 

 killing, the thermometer being again and again below zero, and again 

 every bush was cut down to heloiv the ground-line. This year they 

 are again first-class and the growth magnificent — too much so, in fact, 

 for nearly every shoot needs staking to prevent its being broken by 

 the wind, to which we are much exposed. Near by these Roses are 

 similar beds not under our charge, treated in orthodox style, and any 

 one can see that the treatment is too good for the climate. Notwith- 

 standing heavy mulchings, many of these Roses are annually killed by 

 the severity of the winter. A number of the survivors are seriously crip- 

 pled by the "coddling" and the weather, so that their growth in spring 

 and summer is far from equal to ours. The heavy mulchings, which 

 are dug in in spring, and the manure-waterings, make the soil richer, 

 and the consequence is a strong growth at a season when growth 

 should not be making but maturing, and which is always killed 

 because it is always immature. The natural result is death and dis- 

 ablement. Any one looking on these beds in spring would fail to see 

 much difference ; 'both are generally cut down, the one to the manure, 

 the other to the ground-line. A month later the difference is obvious. 

 Ours are growing stoutly, the others are growing weakly on account 

 of the little vitality left in them — some indeed are past growing at all. 

 Why the difference 1 The reason why ours grow strongly is because 

 the growth is made early and matured early, and therefore the root- 

 stock is strong and mature, and able to again throw up sturdy growths 

 to bloom early and mature early. The others hang long and make 

 little growth; but the rich soil, aided by liquid manure, acts by-and-by, 

 and strong shoots at length appear, but appear too late, for the winter 

 finds them in midsummer condition — and the whole plant being in an 

 immature state, suffers accordingly. Were the season to last a month 

 or so longer, these might mature, and consequently stand the winter ; 

 as it is, they are the innocent victims of " orthodox" treatment. We 

 cannot make the climate fit us ; but we ought to make our practice fit 

 it. Without liberal supplies of manure, southern growers could not 

 produce the grand Roses they do. It does not follow that the same 

 treatment in cold or northern localities will produce equal results — 

 often the very reverse will follow. Many are delighted when they see 

 trees making great strong growths ; but the practical men among us 

 know that unless we get fine dry summer and autumn weather to 



