344 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
saw in quest of standard stocks. If no winter 
mulch is applied to the Rose beds, the surface 
should still be kept stirred and loose. Roses for the 
earliest forcing may be pruned and started at the 
end of the month, and grafting under glass may be 
commenced about Christmas time. 
January.—This is the best month for grafting in 
heat, though it may be continued in February. In 
light frosts, strong liquid manure may be put on the 
Rose beds, when it will sink in rapidly and in 
quantity. After or during high winds, the Teas 
may be inspected to see that the protective materials 
are secure, and standards should be looked to, as 
they may have broken away from their stakes. 
Standard stocks may still be got at any time when 
the weather is open. Even in severe frost work 
may be found in digging trenches to discover and 
cut off the invading roots of trees and shrubs. 
Roses being forced under glass will now be starting 
and requiring much care, and winter grafting will 
be in full swing. 
February.—lf farmyard manure is used in the 
soil, now is the time to dig or fork it in, but be sure 
it is thoroughly decomposed, or in my opinion it 
will do more harm than good. Still, it supplies the 
vegetable matter of humus, and if the soil in the 
beds be raw and light-coloured, such an addition 
is necessary, but the upper portion of the beds 
should originally have been supplied with humus, in 
old garden mould or the like. If no digging is 
practised, the soil should be well loosened by the 
hoe, as some weeds will probably have grown since 
October. The artificial manure should then be 
applied, choosing a still day when it can be 
