136 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL ROSE GROWING. 
Stockholm tar thinned with petroleum, or with gas tar. The 
simplest plan of all, however, is to char them. 
Arches. 
The wire arch rides rampant in suburban gardens, largely 
because it is so much quicker and easier to go to the iron- 
monger’s than to hunt the neighbourhood for stems and poles. 
Yet a little trouble is often rewarded. Country builders 
frequently have stems and boles on the premises, and a casual 
visit is repaid by the acquisition of a useful collection of 
supports. A couple of stout stems fixed opposite to each other, 
and spanned, in an informal sort of way, by smaller pieces, 
constitute a far better framework for an arch, in the estimation 
of artistic people, than an ironmonger’s erection of galvanised 
wire. | 
If galvanised wire arches are employed—and they are un- 
questionably convenient for town and suburban gardens—the 
cheapest qualities should be tabooed, as they are frequently 
“ galvanised ” very lightly, and if the metal is exposed the atmo- 
spheric acid causes a chemical action, which may act, and in 
many cases has acted, prejudicially to the plants. The arches 
should be handled carefully. If thrown about and bruised, the 
metal is exposed at once. 
The arch is the first resource of the gardener who aims at 
interesting effects. Many Roses do extremely well on arches, 
and in view of the selections given in the previous chapter it 
is unnecessary to specify them here. But the arch must not 
be the only departure from the rectangles of beds, as it 
threatens to be now. 
Banks. 
In the chapter on soil preparation a method of cultivation was 
indicated which renders it easy to perform well a task which 
is often done with a great deal of labour, and then badly. It 
may now be pointed out that a well-arranged bank of Roses 
is capable of giving a very valuable effect ina garden. Pegged- 
down Roses, pruned and managed in the way previously ad- 
vised, may be utilised to clothe banks. Or the free-flowering 
species and “ garden” varieties may be utilised in bold masses, 
as at Kew. 
If a complete design is wanted for a bank with a gentle 
slope, Fig. 76 (p. 137), may be copied. Here there is an opening for a 
pretty set of beds. No. 1 might be made to form a charming 
centrepiece by inserting rough stems and planting Crimson 
Rambler, Bardou Job, or other selected climbers to cover 
them. Nos. 2 to 8 may be dwarfs, Nos. 9, 11, and 13 pegged- 
down plants, and Nos. 10, 12, and 14 occupied by stumps for 
Roses to ramble over. This is merely a suggestion. The plan 
might be varied to suit individual taste. 
