104 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



itself into notice ; the plants kept up a steadier rate of 

 growth, producing an abundance of clear, well-formed 

 blossoms ; the wood ripened well, and sustained little or no 

 injury from the winter's frost. The results attendant on 

 the use of the other manures were not remarkable ; they 

 had acted as gentle stimulants, the nitrate of soda and 

 bones least visibly so, although they were applied in the 

 quantities usually recommended by the vendors. . . . 

 I think burned and charred earth the best manure that can 

 be applied to wet or adhesive soils." 



Mr Turner of Slough does not show his cards, but when 

 he comes to play them on the green cloth or baize of the 

 exhibition-table, no man deals more fairly, knows the game 

 more thoroughly, holds more trumps, or scores the honours 

 more frequently. 



Messrs Wood of Maresfield, perhaps the largest growers 

 of the Rose in the world, commend a mixture of well- 

 seasoned animal manure, with the top -spit of an old 

 pasture, deep trenching, thorough draining, and a free use 

 of the pruning-knife the first year after planting. 



Concluding this long chapter, I would earnestly assure 

 the novice in Rose-growing that there is only one exception 

 (and that in Egypt) to the rule, " Ex nihilo nihil fit." If he 



