THE TREE DOCTOR 



143 



Photo 125 



Ramblers are Prolific Bloomers. 



slow on novelties." The first Crimson Rambler I saw made no 

 growth for two years, and it looked like a "fraud." After its 

 merits were learned, I planted some myself. They were set in 

 September. From the following April to September they grew 

 over nine feet. This was no "happenstance." The soil was a 

 loose sand, but for each plant a hole was dug four feet in diam- 

 eter and four feet deep. This was filled with two parts clay sod, 

 and one part well rotted barnyard manure. Good, strong, one- 

 year-old plants were used, cutting them back, and covering 

 them, after Christmas, till spring. Photo 124 shows a strong 

 old Rambler, cut back, and the vigorous, lower, young branches 

 tied down to a frame, and three young canes tied up to a sup- 

 port in the center, rudely representing an old-fashioned candle- 

 stick. When in bloom, the whole was a blaze of glory. Photo 

 125 shows what a prolific bloomer the plant is. In making rose- 

 beds, remember that drainage is absolutely necessary if the situ- 

 ation is wet and soggy, for though the rose delights in clay soils 

 it cannot stand to be "wet-footed." If the soil is of a clay tex- 



