222 PLANS AND PLANTING SCHEMES. 



tiful. Her armies are already legion, and yet they re- 

 ceive fresh recruits every year. New varieties are con- 

 tinually being- raised, to add, if possil)le, fresh charms 

 to the ranks of the most beautiful of all flowers. 



The Rose asks no rival to share her domain, and 

 she is prepared to fulfil every decorative desire. With 

 the dwarfest of trees she will bejewel the earth, rising- 

 in varying heights her head, from the dwarf to the half- 

 standard or the standard to the weeper. With climb- 

 ing varieties she throws a mantle of flowers over rock, 

 pillar, or arch, giving to the garden — small or large — a 

 most dazzling effect. 



There seems to be nothing in reason that she 

 cannot do. Starting to flower with queenly splendour 

 at the end of May or the beginning of June, she holds 

 her court until the end of October or beginning of 

 November — a pleasure to all ! It is hard to understand 

 why more people do not grow this beautiful flower. 

 The only two reasons I have ever heard given , worthy 

 of consideration are : (i) " My soil will not grow 

 Roses "; and (2) "I cannot afford it." Now, reason 

 (i) certainly sounds very hopeless, but I can straight- 

 way assure any would-be grower, who is really of this 

 opinion, that such is not the case, or, at any rate, 

 such need not be so. It is, indeed, too true that some 

 soils are far more productive than others, and certain 

 localities present greater facilities ; yet to the gar- 

 dener who would grow Roses this difficulty will soon 

 disappear, even like the major part of a poor soil that 

 encumbers a valued site. If,, as you say, the soil of your 

 garden will not grow Roses, then the sooner the beds 

 and borders are taken in hand the better, for no gar- 

 dener should make this statement about one of the 

 hardiest of flowers, whose parent stock is to be found 

 in such profusion throughout the land. But, since 

 to grow Roses as we would have them grow, success 

 depends principally on the soil. It is needful to make 

 a very careful study of the land, and to secure the 

 best advice as to its improvement, not forgetting, at 

 the same time, advice also as to the selection of those 



