CUT-FLOWER CROPS 245 



planted should first be filled in with broken stone, bricks 

 or other coarse material ; then a fine layer of soil put on 

 top, and the remainder of the bed filled with loam of the 

 character mentioned. It should be composted with at 

 least one-sixth of well-rotted cow manure. 



299. Size of beds. The beds should be small enough 

 so the bushes can readily be reached and the soil stirred 

 frequently from the walks. Long, narrow beds are best, 

 of a width not exceeding five feet. They may be of any 

 length. The paths may be of grass or cinders. Grass 

 walks are more attractive and are more easily kept than 

 are those of cinders. 



300. Selection of rose stock. As a rule, better blooms 

 are produced on budded stock. The first expense is 

 greater, but the duration of the varieties is longer, and 

 the plants give enough better satisfaction to offset the 

 additional cost. Strong-growing varieties, like Magna 

 Charta, will grow well on their own roots, but weaker-grow- 

 ing varieties are practically useless unless budded. When 

 grown on their own roots many of the varieties have a 

 greater tendency to disease. It is thought best to buy 

 two-year-old plants, and to get field-grown stock from 

 nurseries, rather than pot-grown plants. When grown 

 in pots, the plants frequently become pot-bound and the 

 growth the first year is weak. The roots do not spread 

 quickly into the surrounding soil, but remain matted at 

 the base of the plant. If potted plants are used, care 

 should be taken to break the root system before setting 

 in the soil. 



301. Planting out-of-doors. Spring planting generally 

 gives the best results. The stronger varieties of hybrid 

 perpetuals, rugosaSi yellows, Scotch and climbers may 

 be planted in the fall, about the first of November, and 



