1881.] TRANSACTIONS. " 



deeply trenched or snb-soiling system in the preparation of the 

 ground, considering it entirely unnecessary. One of the most 

 successful Rose growers in the vicinity of Boston has improved 

 a poor sandy soil, and adapted it for this purpose by spreading a 

 liberal dressing of a kind of marl or clay found in most sand 

 banks in layers, and by allowing the action of the frost upon it, 

 it was then readily worked and proved just the requisite addition. 



My system of planting was very simple at the outset, the land 

 being already in a good state of cultivation. First, preparing 

 myself with a well rotted compost heap of horse manure, the 

 space assigned for the plants was covered with a portion of the 

 compost, spread broadcast, and then thoroughly ploughed in. 

 I may mention here tliat I have at other times made use of 

 hen manure mixed with about one-third soil, and consider it a 

 good fertilizer for the rose. The ground was then laid out in 

 rows three feet apart, and the same distance observed between 

 the plants, the holes for their reception were prepared by throw- 

 ing out the soil to the depth of one spade from each, then tlirow- 

 ing in two or three forks full of manure thoroughl}' incorporating 

 it with the soil to the depth of tlie spade, and then all was ready 

 for the plants. 



My plants are all the so-called dwarfs, worked low upon the 

 Manetti stock, which I prefer to the Prince's or Seedling Brier, 

 as it seems better adapted to my light soil. I judge the latter 

 variety may be better suited to a stronger or clayey soil; at any 

 rate, all the plants I had worked upon this stock have died. My 

 plants were imported and not received until about December 10th 

 after the ground was closed, so that I was obliged to keep them 

 in snug winter quarters, bedding them carefully into a frame, pro- 

 tecting tliem very closely with leaves, and covering the frame 

 with boards. They came out in splendid condition in tiie Spring, 

 and were planted with hardly an exception to successful growth ; 

 which result has led me to prefer the Spring for planting in our 

 uncertain climate, and I have continued to make small experi- 

 ments of the same kind yearly since my first venture. Having 

 cut back tlie plant to two or three buds, the stock should be 

 planted with tlie collar, which is the intersection of the bud with 

 the stock, about two inches under the surface, and the soil pressed 

 very firmly about it ; the latter point I consider of the first im- 

 portance, in fact it is one of the principal keys to success in Rose 

 culture in Spring planting. Through the Summer I apply guano 

 occasionally to the surface m the proportion of a handful or 

 two to each plant, sometimes in a dry state, sometimes in water ; 

 and near the flowering season, especially in June when they are in 

 a vigorous state of growth and bloom. Sulphate of Ammonia has 



