CULTIVATION. 



The cultivation of roses involve — 



(a) planting and preparation of the soil, 



(b) pruning and training, 



(c) watering and application of manure, 



(d) propagation. 



Any soil that is well prepared and manured 

 will grow roses. Gravelly soil is often too 

 quickly condemned but the gravel can be re- 

 moved to the required depth and good soil 

 substituted. The advantage is gained of a 

 naturally drained soil. A common and good 

 method of preparing the soil is to dig out 

 the bed two feet deep, fork up the bottom, thus 

 ensuring good drainage, fill in nine inches of 

 good rotten manure, and then put back the 

 excavated earth. It will be seen that there is 

 at least one foot of soil between the roots and 

 the manure; no manure should at any time 

 come in contact with the roots of the plant. 

 It must be remembered that the more manure 

 is added the more the bed will sink eventually 

 as it decays. The distance of the plants 

 from each other in the rows or beds should 

 depend entirely on the varieties, the spread- 

 ing varieties at a greater distance than those 

 which are small and upright. The best time 

 for planting is undoubtedly while the plants 

 are more or less dormant, and this will be 

 during November, December and January. 

 Like most other plants they can be planted 

 during the rains, provided extra care is taken 



