CHAP. V MANURES 65 



perhaps die if they are placed in the planting in contact 

 with fresh, raw, and insufficiently decayed manure. The 

 roots of the Rose like to run and feed in thoroughly 

 fertilised soil of the proper texture and quality in 

 preference to actual manure ; and this is why fresh soil, 

 the top " spit " of an old pasture with the turf, liquid 

 manure of different sorts, or artificial if the exact 

 amount and proportions can be found, have more satis- 

 factory results as a rule than any quantity of solid 

 manure incorporated in the soil. 



It may be said that the soils of many a garden are, 

 from long manuring, thoroughly fertilised earth : and 

 indeed the manetti stock, which seems to like this sort 

 of ground, budded with H.P.s in a favourable situation 

 (that is, well away from trees or shrubs or any strong 

 vegetation), will often give very satisfactory results the 

 first season in an old garden. But this dark old soil, 

 very rich in humus and decayed vegetable matter, though 

 it may be much benefited by a dressing of lime, is 

 generally wanting in some of the -mineral constituents 

 which the Rose requires, for though heavily manured it 

 has probably been also heavily cropped, and the Rose 

 likes fresh virgin soil if possible. A naturally strong, 

 rich, rather heavy loam is what the H.P. Rose likes, as 

 fresh and unrobbed as possible ; but wonders may be 

 done for the Teas by manure, solid, liquid, and artificial, 

 even on a poor light soil. 



Natural solid Manure. — It will be seen from the 

 above that I do not consider solid manure to be the 

 best form in which to give food to Roses ; and in fact, 

 all my H.P.s, and many of my Teas which have done 

 well, have never had any natural solid manure at all. 

 But many other good authorities may very likely be 

 of a different opinion, and I should quite allow that 



