MANURES. 36 



wider margin between the word enough and an over- 

 dose. Stable manure is the most easily procured, and 

 it is undoubtedly the most reliable; but it should never 

 be used fresh from the stable, except as a top-dressing, 

 when, with all its long straw, it is far too untidy, and 

 makes a Rose border too uninviting. The best condi- 

 tion in which to apply stable manure is when it has de- 

 composed enough to cut with a spade. The manure 

 which formed the bed for a garden frame, or the con- 

 tenants of last years pit frame is in an ideal state in which 

 to apply it to the garden. I always used to choose a 

 time in January when the frost was out of the ground 

 to fork over all my Rose beds ; then I dug out all the 

 well-rotted stable manure and broke it up, and covered 

 the surface of the beds to the depth of from two to 

 three inches, having first dusted down the surface of 

 the soil with lime or soot. This not only gave a pro- 

 tection against severe frost, but it caught all the Feb- 

 ruary rains and formed a steady mulch. By March 

 much of the manure had washed into the soil, and by 

 the time of drying winds the surface of the beds had a 

 grand coat of fibrous matter that conserved the mois- 

 ture in the soil and still held goodness for April and 

 May showers. By the beginning of June little was left 

 except a fine powdery substance that could lightly be 

 forked ifi if desired after a further dusting of soot. 

 Such a treatment is ideal for Roses, and I write as one 

 w'ho has tried it with thousands of trees for years. Pig 

 manure can be treated in the same way, but a little less 

 should be applied. 



Both horse and pig manure are best for heavy 

 soils. The blacksmith shop also will furnish of hoof 

 parings, many a good sack of material in which Roses 

 delight. This should be forked in, and is suitable for 

 all soils, but more especially heavy land. Hoof pair- 

 ings last for many years, and the effect of this is most 

 noticeable on H.P. Roses. The farmyard is to the 

 Rose grower a perfect gold mine, and, while it supplies 

 its good things in differing grades, it must be remem- 

 bered that each has its varied uses and most appro- 



