36 THE HYBRID CHINA ROSE. 



also prevents that rapid evaporation which would 

 otherwise take place, so often rendering watering 

 useless. This practice is, after all, only imitating 

 nature ; for the Dog Rose, upon which all the fine 

 varieties are grafted, grows naturally in woods 

 and shady places; consequently, its roots are 

 impatient of exposure in hot dry soils and situa- 

 tions, and prefer firm undug surface-manured 

 borders. 



Hybrid China roses, as pillar roses, require 

 also a superabundance of manure and some atten- 

 tion ; but they will amply repay it, for a column 

 twelve to fifteen feet high, covered with such roses 

 as Brennus, Blairii, Chenedole, and a few others, 

 would be one of the finest garden ornaments it is 

 possible to conceive. To make them grow with 

 the necessary luxuriance, each plant should have 

 a circle, at least three feet in diameter, to itself; 

 in the centre of this circle, a stout stake of yellow 

 deal, tarred at the bottom, should be inserted two 

 feet deep, so as to stand eight feet out of the 

 ground : this part may be painted green. If the 

 soil be poor, it should be dug out three feet in 

 depth, and filled up with rotten manure and 

 loam : this compost must be laid considerably 

 (say one foot) above the surface of the surround- 

 ing soil, so as to allow for settling : in wet soils 

 they will grow the better for being on a perma- 

 nent mound ; but such soils should always be 

 drained. Plant a single plant in the centre of 



