STANDARD, PILLAR, AND WEEPING ROSES. 641 



placed is better, and it is not unusual to cut off the ujiper one if the lower 

 one produces a vigorous shoot. Much of the success, however, depends 

 on the choice of the stock. Where it is intended to form a collection 

 by preparing stocks and budding, November is the best month for laying 

 them in : they should be selected of sufficient thickness to support a good 

 head, and of vigorous growth, removed to the place they are to occupy, 

 with their roots uninjured, and as much of the soil attached as possible, 

 and planted in soil rich enough to promote a vigorous growth before budding. 

 "About six years ago," says ]\Ir. Rivers, "I received, among others, some 

 short dog-rose stocks, not more than two feet in height, but stouter than a 

 broom-handle, the bark thin and grey with age : they were planted, and 

 grew most luxuriantly. All stout and old rose-stocks require to be worked 

 with very strong-growing sorts of roses to take off the abundance of sap and 

 keep them in a healthy state. I had them budded with some varieties of the 

 evergreen rose : they grew most luxuriantly, and not being adapted for sale, 

 they were planted in a sloping bank of strong white clay, and left to bloom as 

 nature dictated ; not a shoot was ever touched with the knife. One of these, 

 the Felicite perpetuelle, has been for three summers past a picture of beauty. 

 When in full bloom the ends of its shoots rest on the ground, and it then 

 iorms a perfect dome of roses." 



2001. Where the collection is to be procured from the nursery, the proper 

 way would be to go over the nursery- grounds while the roses are in bloom, 

 and select plants of the kind desired, bearing in mind that the foliage, as 

 well as the flowers, should be healthy, for no after-care will compensate for a 

 sickly growth and dwindling habit. 



-2002. Having secured and labelled the plants selected, which are to be sent 

 home in the planting season, — that is, in November or February, according to 

 circumstances, — the former season being recommended for dry sandy, the latter 

 for moist retentive soils, — the stations or beds are to be prepared for them ; 

 bearing in mind that roses require plenty of light and air, and protection of 

 some kind from the north and north-east, and that the dog-rose grows in almost 

 any soil, but most luxuriantly in soils of a cool and rather tenacious character. 

 If the ground in which they are to be planted is poor, it will, in most cases, 

 be necessary to furnish the plant with an artificial station, digging out the 

 ground for about three feet deep, and from two to three feet diameter. Into 

 this station, having previously secured an outfall for water, place 18 inches of 

 brick-rubbish, broken pots, &c., and fill up with a compost composed of pul- 

 verized clay one part, stiff maiden loam one part, and one part thoroughly 

 decomposed cow-dung, mixed with a little pigeon's or poultry dung. 



2003. In removing them from the nursery, some care should be taken to see 

 that they are transplanted without lacerating the roots ; above all, that they are 

 not suffered to bleach in the sun, while others are being removed. Let them 

 be taken up with as much soil at the roots as will cling to them. When they 

 reach their destination, let them be laid in a trench by the heels until they are 

 required for planting ; and when all is ready, the roots trimmed ard all 



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