III SITUATION AND SOIL 41 
would be a serious nuisance. I have tried cutting 
the roots and putting tar and other things that I 
thought would stop them into the trench, before 
filling it up, but without success. 
The general resort of the baffled Rosarian is to 
take in a piece from a neighbouring field, and this is 
no doubt the best course to pursue; for, if the soil 
be good and the field an old pasture without any 
trees too near, it will be far better to do this at once, 
even at some extra cost, than to try to grow Roses to 
perfection in a garden without sufficient elbow-room 
from large trees and shrubs. 
Pure air is essential, and good Roses cannot be 
grown within the smoke circle of a large town; but 
on the border land, so to speak, of town and country, 
in those suburban gardens where clean or foul air 
may depend upon the direction of the wind, constant 
loving care may do a great deal to minimise the evil 
with a few plants. It should be remembered, in such 
cases, that the leaves are the lungs which are unable 
to respire when choked with grimy particles, and 
plenty of syringing, and even sponging of the leaves 
on the under as well as the upper surfaces, should 
be resorted to. 
Soin 
The best soil for Roses is a strong rich deep 
tenacious loam, of a heavy greasy nature without 
being actual clay, and naturally well drained by 
resting, not less than two feet down, upon gravel or 
chalk or some other porous stratum. This will give 
a general description of what should be the ideal, 
