22 THE BOOK OF ROSES 



grow, but manure in contact with roots in a dormant 

 state will do nothing but harm. 



All Roses should be firmly staked at the time of 

 planting, and the best method of doing this so as to 

 avoid injury to the roots of the plant is by driving in the 

 stake in the middle of the hole before the actual planting 

 of the Rose. Stakes are not needed in the case of dwarf 

 and bush Roses, but any straggling shoots should be cut 

 back so that they may not catch the wind. 



LABELLING ROSES 



All plants should be labelled as soon as possible after 

 planting, and the labels should be as permanent as 

 possible, though at the same time unsightliness should 

 be avoided. Of course where several plants of the same 

 variety are planted in a group or row only one of them 

 needs a label. Wooden labels are as a rule unsatisfactory, 

 unless treated with some form of rot-resisting dressing 

 such as creasote, but for temporary labelling the ordinary 

 little white-painted slips of wood are handy, and can be 

 used with a " garden " pencil to record the name for at 

 least a month or two. The paper labels which are 

 supplied by the nurseryman rarely survive the first 

 storm of wind and rain. It is best to use labels which 

 have their own support : they should never be attached 

 to the plant itself. If they cannot be fixed to the stake 

 or support of the plant they should have an independent 

 support of thick galvanised iron wire about a foot long. 

 Many permanent metal labels may now be bought which 

 are excellent for their purpose. 



