CHAPTER XVH 



PLANTING 



HAVING despatched his order, the prospective cultivator 

 should set about the preparation of his beds and soil, so 

 that everything shall be in readiness for planting opera- 

 tions as soon as the roses arrive from the grower. Roses require a 

 good soil. A famous grower gives the following definition of the 

 most suitable medium for roses, and it so accurately describes what 

 is necessary that I pass it on. He says the soil should be ** a rich, 

 unctuous loam a loam which, when it is pressed between the 

 thumb and finger, does not crumble, but kneads like a piece of 

 putty ; it must not be clay, although approaching it closely." It 

 must not be too light and sandy, so that it cannot retain moisture, 

 and it must not, on the other hand, be so heavy as to be in danger 

 of becoming waterlogged. A rich loam, with a suggestion of 

 ^clay in its composition, is the ideal soil, and every effort should be 

 made to secure it either by adding fine soil, road grit, and ashes, 

 where the ground is too heavy, or by adding rich loamTanoT clay 

 where it is deficient in these properties, and is therefore too light. 

 Two or three weeks before planting the beds should be deeply 

 dug and left rough upon the surface. Deep trenching is essential, 

 and during this process a good quantity of well-decayed manure 

 should be incorporated with the soil. Diagram 8 will give the 

 reader a clear idea of the proper method of planting. The 

 cardinal principle to keep in mind is that the roots must have plenty 

 of space, as shown in Figure 1, and not be crushed and cramped 

 as indicated in Figure 2. In the case of standards, a stout stake 

 should be placed in the centre of the hole before the tree is planted, 

 and not afterwards. Figure 5 shows the dire effects which follow 

 the latter practice. The holes for the reception of the trees should 



