FEBRUARY 241 



ground that is to be trenched should also be planted 

 at once. I do not advocate trenching land ahead of 

 the planting unless it can be exposed throughout the 

 summer. This is by far the best practice. 



Supposing one possesses a plot of land and wishes to 

 convert part of it into a rose garden. Start now, remov- 

 ing six inches of the turf, and stack this for future pot- 

 ting needs. Then mark out a yard in width. Dig out 

 the first " spit," which is really the top soil to the depth 

 of the spade. Wheel this away to the end of the piece 

 to be trenched. Shovel out the loose soil and wheel this 

 away. With a strong digging fork break up the next 

 layer of soil, and upon this spread about four inches thick 

 of well-rotted manure. Also scatter on some basic slag, 

 about six ounces to the square yard. Mark out the 

 next yard and dig the top spit and all loose soil into 

 the open trench, thus filling it. If the turf is not wanted 

 it may be placed grass downwards on the lower spit of 

 soil. 



Established roses may be manured now, although 

 this is best done in November. If farmyard manure is 

 given, let it be put on the beds thickly and dug under at 

 once. If there seems scarcely enough soil on the beds 

 owing to the removal of weeds, etc., the manure may be 

 spread and covered with soil. This is an excellent 

 method of feeding roses, especially old plants. Another 

 good plan is to scoop out the soil around each plant and 

 give each a bucketful of fresh cow manure. Tonks' 

 rose manure should be applied this month. This is 

 one of the best of manures to give, and it can be readily 



