ROSES. 365 



severe freezing, and the tops being able to draw upon the roots 

 for moisture, to supply that which is evaporated from their sur- 

 faces by the frosty Avinds, suffer much less from extremes of cold 

 than when the roots are held in frozen earth. Again, when the 

 flower-buds are making themselves prominent, we are so often 

 liable to suffer from insiifficient rainfall and hot sunshine, that 

 a good mulch of manure is exceedingly valuable in keeping the 

 roots cool and moist, and supplying tliem with food at a time 

 when it is much needed to perfect the nascent Eoses. If such a 

 mvdch would be unsightly, it may be concealed by a covering of 

 fresh mown grass. If the gtoimd be not mulched, it should be 

 kept loose and friable upon the surface, by frequent stirring with 

 the pronged hoe. 



Planting may be done either in the fall or spring, as may be 

 most convenient. If it be done in the fall, the roots should be 

 protected from frosts. K the snow cannot be depended on 

 for this protection, the surface of the ground may be deeply 

 mulched mth a covering of strawy manure, sufficiently thick to 

 exclude the frost. In addition to this a few evergreen branches 

 may be laid over them, or the butts thrust into the ground around 

 them, so as to shelter the stems and branches from the sun and 

 drying winds, to the great benefit of the Eose trees. If done 

 in the spring, the ground should be mxdched in the same manner, 

 to prevent the soil from becoming too dry in simimer. 



If the Rose trees are on their own roots, that is, not budded 

 nor grafted, they should be planted so as to stand at the same 

 depth in the ground as they did previously, when tlie newly 

 disturbed soil has become settled to its place. But if the Roses 

 are budded or grafted, they should be planted so that the place 

 of union with the stock will be two or three inches below the 

 surface. It is necessary in our cHmate to cover the point of union 

 between the scion and stock deep enough in the soil to protect 

 it from the hot, drying suns of summer, and severe frosts of 

 ■winter. 



In budding Roses the buds should be inserted as close to the 



