ROSE. 275 



agant quantity, the better the bloom ; but, in addition to the 

 quality and richness of the soil, a good depth is absolutely 

 necessary. My general practice is to plant out roses in beds, 

 which, for all the hardy roses, I prefer to do in November. 

 First, the ground should be trenched two spades deep, and a 

 liberal supply of stable, barnyard, or night-soil manure, with 

 bone-dust incorporated with it, as the digging proceeds, but not 

 buried too deep. I have not been very particular as to the 

 quantity or quality of the manure. After the ground is settled, 

 the Roses may be planted. Four feet each way is about the 

 proper distance to plant the different varieties of Roses, in the 

 rosery. 



Rivers recommends, as the best compost for Roses, rotten 

 dung and pit sand for cold, clayey soils ; and for warm, dry 

 soils, rotten dung and cool loams. He finds that night-soil, 

 mixed with the drainings of the dunghill, or even with com- 

 mon ditch or pond water, so as to make a thick liquid, the best 

 possible manure for Roses, poured on the surface of the soil 

 twice in the winter, one or two gallons to each tree. In our 

 climate, it may be applied in November and in April. In my 

 beds of established Roses, I cause manure from the stable to be 

 applied to the surface of the ground about the bushes, in No- 

 vember, which serves as a protection ; some of the tender sorts 

 are fastened down and covered with the same. As soon as the 

 ground is in a fit state to dig, in the spring, this manure is 

 carefully incorporated with the surface soil, but not so as to 

 injure the fibres or roots of the plants. A wet, retentive soil 

 is injurious to the Rose, as I have found by sad experience ; 

 but in a rich, dry loam my labors have been amply rewarded. 



When Roses are to be planted out singly, as many of the 

 climbing sorts are, the soil should be dug out two and a half 

 feet deep ; the bottom may be filled, to the depth of six inches, 

 with small stones, or, what is better, with bones, and then filled 

 up with prepared soil. 



Situation. The Rose will flourish in any situation where 

 the soil is well prepared ; but it is best to plant the Rose where 



