190 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PREPARATION OF THE ROSE BEDS. Knowing that we had to 

 face the fact of all the Roses being grafted on the Dog Rose it was 

 important to give them a deep, cool loam, and the beds in most 

 cases were dug out to a depth of thirty inches below the surface. 

 Although a somewhat rocky and impervious bottom no drainage 

 was used, no liquid manure was ever given, and no water even in 

 the hot summers. The beds were filled with the cool heavy loam of 

 our best fields, mixed with the old dark soil of the beds and raised 

 gently above the surface, say, to an average height of not less than 

 6 inches, so that there was about 3 feet of good rich soil. And this 



Summer Roses on cottage wall (Surrey). 



preparation was sufficient for years, the beds being in some cases 

 quite vigorous after six and seven years' growth. 



ROSE BEDS AND ALPINE FLOWERS. Instead of mulching the 

 beds in the usual way, and always vexing the surface with attentions 

 I thought dirty and needless, we covered them with Pansies, Violets, 

 Stonecrops, Rockfoils, Thymes, and any little rock-plants to spare. 

 Carpeting these rose beds with life and beauty was half the 

 battle. Every one asks us how we mulch. Well, we do not mulch 

 except with these living plants, many of which are so fragile in their 

 roots that they cannot have much effect in a bed of 3 feet of moist,. 



