256 VINES 
the trench, two or three feet dawn, and covered 
with something to prevent the soil clogging up 
the interspaces. Sphagnum moss answers admi- 
rably, but anything of a like nature will do. 
The reader need not become alarmed over this 
advice, because only in extreme cases is it neces- 
sary to go to all this bother. 
Roses revel in deep, well-enriched soil, and I 
have yet to hear of any one getting too rich a 
bed for them. Thoroughly trench the soil three 
feet deep and add to every two cubic yards of 
earth one cubic yard of manure. Cow manure 
is the best, but any good farm yard manure will 
do. As the top, or surface soil contains the most 
fertility, it is turned to the bottom in the trench- 
ing, which should be done, at the very least, six 
weeks before planting — ten weeks is better — to 
give the ground an opportunity to settle before 
planting time. 
Climbing roses do not need much pruning, 
but one cannot afford to neglect it altogether. 
Merely remove the dead wood and the very weak 
shoots and cut back on the previous season’s 
growth far enough to get two or three good, 
strong breaks; but do not let the plant carry 
more wood than it can support. If a plant is 
doing well, it needs very little pruning; but if - 
