THE ROSE GARDEN. 25 



And whatever the situation may be, they assume a decidedly improved appear- 

 ance when grown in a frame or greenhouse. An unfavourable locality or soil 

 should never deter the lover of Roses from entering on their cultivation ; for 

 such is the diversity of character of the varieties belonging to the genus, 

 that some may be found suited to, or capable of flourishing in, the least 

 desirable localities ; and the soil may be improved, or dug out, and the 

 beds re-filled with prepared soil. For the encoixragement of those whose situation 

 may be decidedly unfavourable, it may be stated, that a great part of the Roses 

 grown at this establishment are sent into the neighbourhood of London and the 

 large manufacturing towns in England and Scotland. And it is pleasing to see, 

 in their perfect production there, how far the art of culture can be brought to 

 triumph over circumstances. In such situations, the practice which seems to 

 have been attended with the most marked success, is that of syringing the plants 

 frequently with clean water, which frees the leaves of the impurities which settle 

 on them. Thus, it will be seen, none need despair of securing a moderate share 

 of success in, and of realizing the pleasures afforded by, the cultivation of this 

 richly-varied flower. 



We have said that soils are capable of improvement, and may suppose that 

 every one has his garden under his own controul, so far as improvement goes. 

 To this point let us now direct attention. 



In the first place, if our soil be wet it should be drained. Roses will never 

 flourish in a soil naturally wet. As few plants will, if a garden be of this nature, 

 it would seem desirable, before attending to other improvements, to drain it wholly 

 and thoroughly. 



Let us suppose we have a piece of clayey undrained land, which is the best our 

 limits contain, and on which we are about to form a Rosarium. We defer 

 planting the Roses till spring, availing ourselves of the autumn and winter for 

 the amelioration of the soil ; unless, indeed, there has been an opportunity of 

 working it during the previous winter and summer, when autumn planting is 

 thought preferable. There is not, however, always an opportunity of doing this ; 

 and we will suppose it taken in hand in October, just after a crop has been 

 removed from it. Our first object is to secure a perfect drainage. This may be 

 done by digging trenches two and a half to three feet deep, at about five yards 

 apart, and laying draining tiles in at the bottom. In digging the trenches, they 

 may be cut sloping from eighteen inches at top to two inches at the bottom. 

 We must find out the lowest ground, and secure a gentle fall from the higher 

 ground, that the water may run away freely. 



If we do not choose to lay drain-tiles in the trenches, bushes may be put there, 

 or stones, brick-bats, clinkers from the furnaces, broken into moderate-sized pieces, 

 or any description of rubble. These will accomplish the same end, if laid suffi- 

 ciently deep, though not so perfectly, as the soil will find its way amongst them 

 in course of time, and choke up the passages through which the water should find 

 egress. Having laid the soil dry, the next object should be to expose it, as much 

 (Dm;. I.) / 



