CULTIVATION. 5S9 



planted at intervals all round them ; while standards or pillars of roses 

 occupy the outer angles of each of the beds in the oval gravel-bed, defining 

 as it were the path of its outer circle, while a circular bed of dwarf roses sur- 

 rounds the basin ; and raised seats, bowered in roses, occupy each comer of 

 the garden. Vases, pillars, and pyramids, of course, may be scattered 

 through the ground according to the taste of the proprietor. 



§ 2.— Cultivation. 



iS66. We left the rose-garden lying fallow, and the stations dug out to 

 receive the plants at the proper season. Where the soil is a good stiff loam, 

 it will only be necessary to enrich it with some strong manure, as decomposed 

 night-soil, slaughter-house dung, or any similar strong compost, thoroughly 

 incorporating the mass together before filling it in. The distance of the 

 plants apart will depend ujDon various circumstances. Is the sort a weak or a 

 strong gTOwer ? Is it to be pegged down and grown in a mass, or is it to be 

 a bush, in which the habit of the shrub is to appear ? In the former case, 

 the stronger-growing varieties should be about two feet apart ; in the latter, 

 dwarf bushes should be two feet and a half to three feet apart, in order to 

 show their individual habit ; dwarf bushes for pegging down, perhaps more 

 than a foot and a half apart. 



1867. Where the beds are intended for pegging down, the soil should be 

 stirred frequently before planting, especially in frosty weather, and where the 

 plants are to be turned out of pots into the beds. 



1868. In preparing for planting, trim the roots, whether on stocks or on 

 their own stems, pretty close ; removing all damaged parts, and also all dead 

 wood from the stem. Having filled up the hole, so that, when the bush is 

 planted, the crown shall be on a level with the surrounding soil, — for which a 

 tm-f cut from a field whei-e the soil is pretty good, with the grass downwards, 

 is excellent, — spread out the roots in all directions, leaving the stem per- 

 fectly upright, and fill in the remainder of the compost until the whole is 

 level with the soil when pressed down ; the compost being a mixture of one-half 

 decomposed cow-dung and one-half stifiSsh loam for strong-growing kinds, 

 and an addition of leaf-mould for the more delicate Bourbon, Tea-scented, and 

 Noisette roses. In dry weather a copious watering will settle the earth about 

 the roots. 



1869. Rose-plantations may be made either in autumn or spring ; that is, in 

 the months of October and November for the hardier sorts, or from March to 

 May for more tender varieties. Those planted before the end of November 

 get rooted before the winter sets in severely, and flower better in the follow- 

 ing summer. Rose-planting never succeeds after heavy rains, unless the soil has 

 been suffered to dry, and is again worked up to a fine pulverized state. There is 

 also an advantage in having the soil washed into the roots by heavy rains after 

 planting. When the season is over, that is about December, assistance should 



