54 THE SUMMER ROSE GARDEN. 



inense heads. To keep them in a healthy state, 

 lay round their stems, on the surface of the soil, in 

 winter, a good proportion of manure ; and mind 

 that before the blooming season commences this 

 is added to, as they require the surface of the soil 

 moist when in flower : they will also continue 

 much longer in bloom if this is attended to.* The 

 great objection to this summer surface-manuring, 

 with English gardeners, is its unsightly appear- 

 ance, particularly round trees on well-dressed 

 lawns: this may be soon obviated, by covering the 

 manure with some green moss ; and to keep the 

 birds from disturbing it, which they will do after 

 worms, place on the moss some pieces of rock, or 

 flints, thus forming an ornamental mound. In 

 France roses are cultivated with much and well- 

 rewarded care ; for even standards of thirty years 

 growth have, every spring, a large quantity of 

 manure laid on the surface round their stems. 



* The following note from the Catalogue of 1843, will be found 

 of value: 



" I may, perhaps, venture to give the results of some experi- 

 ments made this last season with roses. 



" I have found night-soil, mixed with the drainings of the 

 dunghill, or even with common ditch or pond water, so as to make 

 a thick liquid, the best possible manure for roses, poured on the 

 surface of the soil twice in winter, from one to two gallons to each 

 tree. December and January are the best months : the soil need 

 not be stirred till spring, and then merely loosened two or three 

 inches deep with the prongs of a fork ; for poor soils, and on 

 lawns, previously removing the turf, this will be found most effi- 

 cacious. 



