56 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
drainage, natural or artificial, no success can be 
achieved. In any soil there should be perfect 
drainage, as cultivation depends upon it in many 
ways. All really worthless soil, chalk, gravel, or 
sand should be taken away, but long before this 
should have been the hunt among neighbouring 
farmers and landowners for good Rose material to 
take its place. When found and purchased, this 
good loam—the top spit of an old pasture if possible 
—heavy and strong, but not actual clay if good loam 
can be found, should be carted to the spot while the 
ground is yet hard in September, for the Roses are 
to be planted early in November, and the soil will 
do well to rest and consolidate a while before 
planting. 
Let the beds be dug out, as advised, to the depth 
of two clear spades at least; and let it be under- 
stood that the material is to be made up in two 
portions or layers, whereof the lower is to be the 
larger. If among grass, reserve the turf to be 
chopped up and mixed into the upper portion. 
Next lay on one side all soil in the top spadefuls 
that seems fairly fertile, however light and dry; it 
will be useful for a thin layer in immediate contact 
with the roots, for mixing very slightly with the 
lower portion but more fully with the upper part, 
and for forming the topmost two inches of the bed. 
Then dig out the remainder of the depth agreed 
on, and see that the drainage is right. If the soil 
be good replace it, and if it be worthless cart it 
away, and fill in with the imported soil, which if it 
be actual clay should also have a good deal of the 
lighter material worked in as thoroughly as possible. 
This lower portion should be about two-thirds of 
