IV PLANTING 57 



where raw soil taken from some distance below the sur- 

 face is used, but the upper portion of all soils has 

 generally sufficient of this. 



For these reasons I recommend strong rich fresh 

 soil in preference to the addition of solid manure, and 

 that if any be used it be placed underneath, where it 

 may be used before it has lost its strength. 



It must be borne in mind that shallow planting 

 is of no use without cultivation, which is done by 

 the Dutch hoe constantly at work on the surface. 

 This causes more rapid evaporation from the actual 

 inch or two disturbed and it soon becomes dry, but 

 at the same time by closing the pores and filling up 

 cracks it checks the evaporation from below, so that 

 the moisture drawn up from beneath in the manure 

 reaches the roots, and yet cannot escape into the air 

 in vapour. I consider this one of the most important 

 points in the " cultivation " of the Rose. 



As to mulching for winter protection of the roots I 

 do not believe it to be necessary, but the soil should be 

 loose on the surface even in winter, for a friable and 

 well-cultivated surface is a mulch as has just been 

 seen. Very long shoots of dwarf Roses may be short- 

 ened, not too much, but only to prevent the wind get- 

 ting much hold of them. This does not apply to the 

 Noisettes, Marechal Niel, or the Dijon race of Teas, 

 whose long shoots must be protected and tied to some 

 support. 



If the collection is quite small, labels of as per- 

 manent a nature as possible may be used ; but in large 

 collections, especially where, for exhibition, many of a 

 sort are grown together in rows, a book with the rows 

 numbered and the names written in order will be 

 found most convenient. 



