PLANTING. 45 



Of course, it may be that you are only moderately 

 interested in Roses, and that they take a secondary 

 place in your g-arden; I hardly expect this to be the 

 case, but if it is so, and you want to gfrovv them with 

 other Howers in the same border, then ^ive them 

 plenty of room, and do not let tall plants, like Holly- 

 hocks and Delphiniums, crowd their ground and en- 

 croach upon their soil, else you will soon lose the lot. 

 When you have got all your trees planted, and where 

 necessary tied and staked; when every one has been 

 labelled, then the soil should be raked over evenly and 

 a final inspection given. Rough winds will often 

 loosen your trees, and in this case they must all be 

 firmed in again, and. if necessary, staked, for no tree 

 will take root if it is blown about, also the frost will 

 soon drive down into the soil around the stock. 



And now for a few words as to protection against 

 frost. Most Rose growers advise litter and bracken. 

 I have tried both. The former is far too unsightly 

 and untidy; the latter is, in my opinion, none too cer- 

 tain a protection. I strongly advise Nature's natural 

 covering — leaves — and plenty of them. Do not be 

 afraid to pile them on, and then scatter soil over them 

 to keep them down and from blowing about over the 

 garden. Leaves soon decay, and by April they can 

 either be removed or left to incorporate with the soil. 

 For standards, leaves again, should be tied loosely 

 around the bud or union w-ith raffia. I will not perplex 

 the grower with all sorts of alternatives, for most 

 entail labour, and few are effective. Stick to leaves, 

 that can be found anywhere and used with ease, that 

 do not look unsightly or spoil the effect of a well- 

 planned garden even in winter. If the frost is severe, 

 draw them well round your trees, and you will find 

 that they will preserve them when evervthing^ else will 

 fail. 



THE LATE PLANTING OF ROSE TREES. 



In a thousand cases we often find the most careful 

 g-ardener anxious to plant longf after the season for 

 this operation is passed, and the majority, fearing 



