158 FLOWER GARDEN ROSES. [MARCH, 



according to taste, and the purposes intended. They 

 will form in a few years handsome round heads, which 

 will flower more freely than by layers, or trained on 

 their own stalk. They are particularly desirable 

 amongst low shrubs. When planted, they should be 

 well supported by strong rods, to prevent the wind 

 from destroying them. If any of the roots have been 

 bruised in lifting, cut off the bruised part with the 

 knife, and likewise shorten the young shoots; breaking 

 the earth well about their roots when planting. This 

 has been an esteemed shrub among all civilized na- 

 tions. The flowers are double, semi-double, and 

 single ; the colours are pink, red, purple, white, yellow, 

 and striped, with almost every shade and mixture ; the 

 odour universally grateful. This plant is cultivated in 

 every garden, from the humblest cottager to the 

 loftiest prince, and by commercial gardeners in Eu- 

 rope extensively, for distilling rose water, and making 

 the essential oil of roses. They delight in a rich 

 loamy soil, and require plenty of moisture while in a 

 growing state. Those sorts which throw up numerous 

 suckers should be lifted every three or four years, re- 

 duced, and then transplanted. When thus removing 

 them, avoid as much as possible exposing their roots ; 

 and when newly planted, mulching is of considerable 

 advantage ; that is, putting half rotten stable-manure 

 on the surface of the ground round their roots, which 

 prevents evaporation, and keeps up a constant mois- 

 ture. If this was done in general to our roses in dry 

 seasons, it would greatly improve their flowering. 

 For China roses see next month. 



