44 CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 



portion of two bushels of loam to one bushel of manure, 

 one bushel of leaf-mould, and half a bushel of sand, makes 

 a good soil for the more delicate roses. For the more 

 robust kinds, the proportion of loam and of manure should 

 be greater. In all cases, the materials should be mixed 

 two or three months before they are wanted for use, and 

 turned over several times to incorporate them thoroughly. 

 They are frequently, however, mixed, and used at once. 

 The Best loam is that composed of thoroughly rotted turf. 

 A very skilful English rose-grower, Mr. Rivers, recom- 

 mends the compact turf shaved from the surface of an old 

 pasture, and roasted and partially charred on a sheet of 

 iron over .a moderate fire. I have found no enriching 

 material so good as the sweepings from the floor of a 

 horse-sheer, in which manure is mixed with the shavings 

 of hoofs. It is light and porous, and furnishes, in decom- 

 posing, a great quantity of ammonia. For the more deli- 

 cate roses it is particularly suited, while the stronger kinds 

 will bear manures of a stronger and denser nature. The 

 light black soil from the woods is an excellent substitute 

 for leaf-mould ; or, to speak more correctly, it is a natural 

 leaf-mould in the most thorough state of decomposition. 



Young and thrifty roses which have been grown during 

 Bummer may be potted for the house in September. They 



