G8 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



are two different things, and should not be confounded ; 

 the former is for feeding and fertilising objects, and 

 the latter for protection against frost, heat, or drought. 

 Some little good may be washed out of it into the 

 soil, but when wanted no longer it should be removed. 



Well then, shall we apply our solid manure, for food 

 during the spring and early summer, as a top-dressmg ? 

 If we do, it is plain that the roots can only feed on 

 what is washed from it through the soil by rain or 

 watering, and that the same advantage could be got 

 by liquid manuie alone. To this it might be answered 

 that a long drizzling yet thorough rain would wash 

 "the good" out of the top-dressing more gradually 

 and with better effect than could be produced by 

 applying liquid manure in quantity, and if the top- 

 dressing w^as exhausted by much rain, a new supply 

 could take its place. This is true, but a top-dressing 

 has its drawbacks :— not only in its unsightliness, for 

 the enthusiast will think nothing of that— he wants 

 the most perfect Roses and will endure anything for 

 that object— but that, if laid on thick enough to be of 

 any service in feeding, it hinders the beneficent 

 influences of sun and air, brings weeds of its own and 

 makes their extirpation troublesome and, above all, 

 prevents the most important cultivation of the surface 

 during May and June by the Dutch hoe. 



It should be understood that in recommending, in 

 this and the previous chapter, no solid manure in the 

 soil except completely under the roots, I shall be 

 considered by many of the best and most successful 

 cultivators to be airing a imvate " fad," which is not 

 generally recognised by Rosarians. One ought, how^ever, 

 to state one's own convictions : and I quite believe 

 that as a rule more harm than good is done by mixing 



