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variety of garden soils, but that is best which 
contains the greatest proportion of loam; and a 
deep stiff loam is what Roses most delight in. The 
worst: of all is the black porous soil, usually met 
with in town gardens, and which contains a super- 
abundance of humus or decomposed organic matter ; 
here the Rose will rarely thrive without a liberal 
admixture of stiff loam, or even clay. Sharp 
gravelly and light sandy soils are also bad for 
Roses. In many localities, and especially by the 
sea-side (where the latter soil usually prevails), it is 
often a difficult matter to grow any but the most 
robust and free-growing sorts. Rich peat soils are 
not at all unfavourable ; and good Roses may be 
grown in boggy soils, provided they are thoroughly 
drained. There is, however, no description of soil 
to equal a deep rich loam, rather retentive than 
otherwise, having somewhat of a greasy tendency ; 
and if such is well drained, there will be little or no 
difficulty in growing the most choice and delicate 
Roses. As, however, all cannot possibly possess 
these advantages, we must suit our Roses to the 
soil, and our soil to the Roses as best we can ; and 
so happy and ready is the Rose to yield to our will, 
and to become attached to our soil and locality, that 
little difficulty will be experienced in improving 
what Nature has given us to its advantage. 
I will now make a few observations on the 
preparing of soils. Commencing with loamy soils 
the first thing to look to in this, as well as all others, 
is to see that it is thoroughly drained. This matter 
is of so vast an importance to cultivation of plants 
