OUTDOOR ROSE GROWING 



water, so that in very damp seasons the rose roots 

 will not be too wet; second, the bed must, on the 

 other hand, retain moisture to a certain extent so 

 that in very dry seasons the roots will not be too 

 dry. To obtain the drainage it is necessary in soil 

 which is greatly composed of clay to underdrain the 

 beds by a layer of crushed stone; where the soil is 

 more open, gravelly or sandy, this is not needed. 

 Under very bad conditions tile should be used, but 

 never to the extent of draining all the moisture away. 

 The bed should be made two and one-half feet in 

 depth if underdrainage is necessary, with about six 

 inches of crushed or broken stone put in the bottom; 

 small crushed stone lies evenly, and the earth does 

 not sift through it enough to clog the drainage. 

 Large or uneven stone should be covered by some- 

 thing to keep the earth from sifting through. If 

 the bed is made in a lawn the turf cut from the sur- 

 face and turned upside down is a good expedient, 

 or a couple of inches of fine cinders will be found all 

 that is required. Fine stone is really the best. Of 

 course, for a location which is gravelly or sandy, this 

 stone will not be needed and a depth of two feet will 

 be sufficient. 



Mr. E. M. Rosenbluth, of Wallingford, Pennsyl- 

 vania, secures better drainage for his roses by dyna- 

 miting the foundation of his beds. 



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