THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



821 



handsome crimson flowers, and a habit 

 well fitted for growth as a specimen. 



AYRSHIRE ROSE (Rosa Arvensis vars.). 

 These roses, of native origin, are of 

 rapid growth, often running 15 or 20 ft. in 

 one season, and are of use in covering 

 rough buildings, unsightly banks, and 

 trees. They do not require rich soil, and 

 should be pruned very little, or not 

 at all. Bennett's Seedling, Queen of 

 Ayrshire, Queen of Belgians, Ruga, 

 Dundee Rambler, Splendens, and Vir- 

 ginia Rambler are the best-known sorts. 



BOURSAULT ROSE (Rosa Alpina). 

 This is a distinct species, but its varieties 

 form a worthless group, which receives 

 its name from M. Boursault. Most of the 

 varieties are free from thorns and have 

 long reddish shoots. Amadis is most 

 grown. It is one of the groups of roses 

 not worth keeping up. 



ROSE HEDGES. If the soil be naturally 

 a good Rose soil, the work will be light. 

 In that case mark out the position of the 

 hedge 2 ft. wide, trench up that space 

 2 ft. deep, adding as the work proceeds a 

 quantity of well-rotted manure. Where 

 there is any doubt about the staple being 

 of the right sort, remove it, and supply its 

 place with a mixture of three parts loam 

 and one of manure. There are, however, 

 many gardens the soil of which, with the 

 addition of one barrowful of loam to every 

 yard length of hedge, and about half that 

 quantity of manure, will grow Roses well. 

 Plants on their own roots are indispens- 

 able, and if from 2 to 3 ft. high so much 

 the better, as they will form a hedge the 

 sooner. The time of planting must 

 depend on the condition of the plants, but 

 if only small plants in pots are to be had, 

 it should be in April or May. In any case 

 it should be done when the soil is 

 moderately dry, and some finely-sifted 

 mould should be placed round the roots, 

 the ground being made moderately firm. 

 Deep planting must be avoided. The 

 crown should be about 2 in. under the 

 surface, as the soil will afford it some pro- 

 tection during severe weather. As soon 

 as the planting is done, give some support 

 to the branches, a neat stake and a strong 

 tie preventing them from being blown 

 about by the wind. Place a layer of short 

 rotten manure over the roots. This should 

 be 3 in. thick, and I ft. wide on each side. 

 During the first two years little pruning 

 will be necessary, but the second spring 

 after planting any strong shoots that 

 exceed 3 ft. in length should be cut back 

 to that point. In the ground place a few 

 neat sticks, to which tie some of the 

 lower branches to form the base of the 



hedge and bring it into shape. After the 

 second year the growth will gain more 

 vigour and increase in length. Cut down 

 the strongest shoots to 4 ft. the third year, 

 and from that time allow them to increase 

 slowly in height so as to give the lower 

 branches time to fill up the base. Some 

 supports will be necessary to keep the 

 growth in shape. The after management 

 consists in giving the roots a good dressing 

 of rotten manure every winter. Rake 

 away the soil from over the roots, lay the 

 manure on them, and then replace the 

 soil. 



WILD AND SINGLE ROSES. 



There are many beautiful single Roses, 

 and now that some interest has been 

 awakened in them, we may expect to see 

 them more freely planted. There are 

 vigorous climbers which, allowed to have 

 their own way and a branched tree to 

 support them, will climb to a great 

 height ; others, sturdy and bushy, are 

 suitable for planting in bold groups and 

 masses, and rare ones will merit special 

 care. They are free from the pests that 

 infest the double Roses, and above all 

 things when single Roses are present 

 in the garden a roseless June will not 

 happen even in the worst of seasons. 

 When Dog Rose and Sweetbriar toss 

 from the hedges in early June our gardens 

 might and should show some of the Wild 

 Rose beauty, for the single Roses of many 

 lands are at our disposal. 



R. ACICULARIS (The Needle Rose] is a 

 beautiful Wild Rose, which when leafless 

 might well be mistaken for the Japan Rose, it 

 is so armed with the sharpest needle-pointed 

 spines, and it has the same stout, vigorous 

 bushy habit of growth as rugosa. In flower 

 and fruit it is quite different, and is a bright 

 flowered kind, but early and long blooming ; 

 and it is always one of the first to open. Its 

 leaves are smaller than those of rugosa ; the 

 flower large, rich red, with a sweet scent. It 

 also has a showy fruit, which differs from that 

 of the Japan Rose, for, instead of being roundish 

 and smooth, it is long and pear-shaped, of a 

 bright red colour, with its apex covered with 

 spiny bristles. It is a native of Siberia, as 

 hardy as any kind known, but as yet un- 

 common in gardens. 



R. ALPINA (Alpine Rose} is really more 

 worthy of a place in the garden than the 

 varieties of which it is the parent the Bour- 

 saults. It grows to a great size, with long, 

 thornless shoots ; does not make such a colour 

 display as most kinds, but it is welcome for its 

 earliness, and a bowl of its rosy-red flowers is 

 pretty in the house in May. Pyrenaica is a 

 distinct form of this from the Pyrenees, of 

 dwarfer habit and with spiny stems. 



R. BRACTEATA ( The Macartney Rose) is a 

 little tender, but it is so beautiful that it repays 



