138 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



not be made too deep. The plant must be placed in the ground 

 "afirisnfficicnt depth to cover, when filled in, the junction where 

 It has been budded, the object being to make the rose itself throw 

 out roots and become self-supporting. The neglect of this pre- 

 caution is often responsible for the throwing up of suckers from 

 * the Manetti or briar stock, which rob the tree of its strength. 

 Another rule to bear in mind is that manure should never be 

 placed in contact with the roots. It must be remembered that 

 for some time after planting the roots will be practically dormant, 

 and if manure be placed near them it may induce fungus and 

 cause the young tendrils of the roots to rot. 



Firm planting is necessary. When the roots have been carefully 

 spread out on the base of the hole they should be covered wil 

 two or three inches of fine soil and trodden firmly down. It is a 

 good plan where it can be obtained, and especially if the season be 

 damp, to fill in immediately round the roots some fibrous material, 

 such as small pieces of old turves and the refuse from the potting- 

 "" bench. This prevents the wet soil from forming a cake round the 

 roots and choking them. When all the trees have been securely 

 planted a layer of well-rotted littery manure may be placed over 

 "the bed, and as a precaution against hard weather it will be 

 advisable to draw the soil up round the collar of the plants. This 

 especially is wise in the case of Tea roses, which are prone to suffer 

 severely in periods of sharp frost. 



If the trees should arrive when the ground is not in a suitable 

 condition to receive them that is to say when it is too wet, or is 

 frost-bound it is a mistake to allow oneself to be flurried into 

 committing them to the soil, in the belief that immediate planting 

 is necessary. As soon as the plants arrive unpack them carefully, 

 and " heel " them in. This means that a small trench is dug in 

 a spare piece of ground, the roots laid in carefully and covered 

 over with soil. The adoption of this precaution will prevent the 

 roots from becoming dry, and will preserve them until such time 

 as the ground in your rose-bed is in a fit condition to receive its 

 future occupants. 



