CH. V MANURES 75 
if they are placed in the planting in contact with 
fresh, raw, and insufficiently decayed manure. The 
roots of the Rose like to run and feed in thoroughly 
fertilised soil of the proper texture and quality in 
preference to actual manure; and this is why fresh 
soil, the top ‘‘spit’’ of an old pasture with the turf, 
liquid manner of different sorts, or artificial 1f the 
exact amount of proportions can be found, have 
more satisfactory results as a rule than any quantity 
of solid manure incorporated in the soil. 
It may be said that the soils of many a garden are, 
from long manuring, thoroughly fertilised earth: and 
indeed the manetti stock, which seems to like this 
sort of ground, budded with H.P.s in a favourable 
situation (that is, well away from trees or shrubs 
or any strong vegetation), will often give very 
satisfactory results the first season in an old garden. 
But this dark old soil, very rich in humus and 
decayed vegetable matter, though it may be much 
benefited by a dressing of lime, is generally wanting 
in some of the mineral constituents which the Rose 
requires, for though heavily manured it has probably 
been also heavily cropped, and the Rose likes fresh 
virgin soil if possible. A naturally strong, rich, 
rather heavy loam is what the H.P. rose likes, as 
fresh and unrobbed as possible ; but wonders may 
be done for the Teas by manure, solid and liquid, 
even on a poor light soil. 
1. NaturRAL Sonip Manure.—It will be seen 
from the above that I do not consider solid manure 
to be the best form in which to give food to Roses, 
provided they be planted in good fresh dark soil that 
is sufficiently rich in humus. But many other good 
authorities may very likely be of a different opinion, 
