24 HOW TO GROW ROSES 



This is Gardenia, running in revelry over the garden-wall 



roots; they are ravenous robbers. If the roots can possibly 

 reach over to your rose-beds, they will do it and steal away the 

 nourishment you have provided. Therefore, either keep entirely 

 away from them or, if you must dig your bed near them, put 

 in a partition on the tree side to keep back the roots. Boards 

 will do for a time; a concrete or brick wall, about 4 inches 

 thick, will last longer. 



Another point to remember is that *'roses do not like wet 

 feet." They seem to resent the ignominy of being subjected 

 to standing in undrained ground. Avoid very low ground for 

 this reason, and also because it is more subject to early or late 

 frost, and that here roses will have greater tendency to mildew. 



Try to combine in your choice as many of these conditions 

 as possible, because, while no point is absokite, all are impor- 

 tant. Don't stop or give up for the lack of some one of them. 

 Be earnest about it, and you will soon provide the essentials. 

 Mr. Chapman, the ornithologist, asked Theodore Roosevelt 

 how he continually accomphshed so much. Mr. Roosevelt 

 answered that this had been his motto: 



''Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 



That motto will prove most useful for the rose-grower. 



■ ''Make a picture of your lawn." This is the first principle of 

 landscape-gardening. Leave open the center spaces and plant 

 about and along the edges. Allow this rule to guide you, then 



