48 PLANTING. 



is advisable to remove any overplus of shoots and to 

 take out weakly growths. 



In all your operations with the late or very late 

 planted tree you must remember that you are taking a 

 risk, and that you are demanding of Nature an especial 

 effort; therefore, you, for your part, must do all in 

 your power to assist her, and I doubt not but that your 

 every care will be repaid. I have given an extreme 

 instance of very late planting, and, although I would 

 not advise it as a practice, yet the question does pre- 

 sent itself, " How late can I safely plant? " Well, 

 without considering any qualifications, sucH as the 

 nature of the soil, the aspect or varieties, I would 

 roughly give to the end of the second week in the 

 month of March for H.P.s and other early kinds, and 

 to the end of March or the first week of April for H.T.s 

 and T.s. But, good reader, like the nurseryman who 

 supplied me with trees, I, too, would say ** taking all 

 risks," and also would add " taking every care." An 

 early season may make a little difference in the date, 

 but it is only a matter of a day or so, and by the time 

 you wish to plant will easily have been discerned. 



If you have no particular choice, I would strongly 

 advise you to leave the selection of varieties to the 

 nursery you favour, as so much will depend upon the 

 position that the trees occupy in the ground, and also- 

 if they have been lifted already. 



So much for the ordinary planting late in the year 

 of Rose trees. Space will not admit of elaboration of 

 the principles I have laid down, or their consideration 

 in respect to certain varieties ; but before we close this 

 chapter it is essential that we consider briefly yet one 

 other method — namely, the transference of pot trees 

 into the open ground at any time of the year. Failures 

 we are certain to have, in addition to the usual mor- 

 tality that takes place every year in almost every Rose 

 garden, and there is no better way to obliterate them 

 than by keeping a few pot Roses to fill up gaps or 

 stand in readiness until some late-formed border is- 

 made readv. 



