MANURES. 99 



mothers of such beautiful babes, when they require it most. 

 *' It is believed," writes Morton, *' by observers of nature, 

 that plants do no injury to the soil while they are pro- 

 ducing their stems and leaves, and that it is only when the 

 blossom and the seed require nourishment that the plants 

 exhaust the soil." 



Under no circumstances must manure be applied, exter- 

 nally or internally, when the ground is saturated with wet. 



And now major a canamiis ! Let us wash our faces, and 

 part our hair down the middle, and go in, with a bow and 

 a curtsey, as little children to dessert, among the great 

 warriors and counsellors of Queen Rose. Let us hear what 

 our chief English Rosarians say (would that my informa- 

 tion included the teaching of those Rose-loving brothers 

 over the Border, for whom, as for all true gardeners, I 

 have so much regard !) on this, which I believe to be the 

 most important topic which will occur for our considera- 

 tion. 



Mr Rivers, whom I have just quoted, and to whom all 

 will readily give precedence, not only for " that good grey 

 head, which all men know," but for what he has done in 

 the Rosarium, writes : " I have found nightsoil, mixed with 

 the drainings of the dunghill, or even with common ditch 



