18 THE BOOK OF ROSES. 



CULTURE OF THE ROSE-TREE. 



SOIL. Rose-trees flourish, according to their 

 species, in different soils ; but it may be obser- 

 ved, generally, that they do best in light open 

 ground, refreshed from time to time with good 

 new mould. Calcareous soils are mostly favour- 

 able ; but some delicate species, such as the 

 Lawranceana, Bengal rose, and others, succeed 

 in sandy ground, or in bog earth. 



ASPECT. In point of aspect, the rose-tree 

 should have neither too much, nor too little sun. 

 A level plain is not injurious when secure of 

 air; but in gardens surrounded by high walls, 

 it will succeed best exposed to the east or 

 west, rather than to the north or south. To 

 use the expression of the gardeners, it prefers 

 a demi-sun. 



PROPAGATION. The rose is propagated in 

 different methods : first, by seed ; secondly, 

 by suckers; thirdly, by layers and slips; fourth- 

 ly, by grafting. 



Propagation by seed is used to obtain new 

 varieties ; but there is no certainty of reprodu- 

 cing the variety sown, nor even the same species, 

 unless we consent to simplify the classes into 



