SITUATION, SOIL AND PLANTING 167 



Readers whose soil is stiff and clayey should obtain 

 some burnt clay and mix this well with the lower soil 

 when trenching is carried out. Failing burnt clay, ashes 

 would do, the object being to keep the clay from setting 

 into solid rock-like lumps. It is a simple matter to burn 

 clay. The best time is May or June, when the soil is 

 fairly dry. Start a good fire with faggots or hedge- 

 trimmings and dry garden rubbish. When a fair heap 

 of hot ashes is obtained, apply more faggots, and cover 

 them with a layer of clay, sprinkling some coal dust 

 among the latter. Three holes should be left open at 

 different parts of the heap so that the fire may burn 

 brightly. As the clay becomes burnt through, apply 

 more wood, clay, and coal dust, and so on, until a big 

 heap is burnt. I am sure that rose growers are not yet 

 fully alive to the value of burnt earth as a means of 

 lightening heavy soils. I have seen some wonderful 

 results from its use. Readers whose gardens are clayey 

 should always have a supply of fine soil to apply around 

 the roots when planting the roses. 



An ideal rose-bed could be made by excavating three 

 feet deep and refilling with the top spit from a meadow, 

 taking care to place the grass turves in the bottom, and 

 incorporating basic slag, burnt earth, and manure in the 

 lower two feet. 



A gravel soil is far from being a good medium for 

 rose growing, but it is better than a sandy soil, as there 

 is usually some good soil among the gravel. If the gravel 

 goes down deep, this should be removed and top soil 

 from another part of the garden brought to replace it. 



