LOCATION AND PREPARATION 



We will now consider that we have dug a trench, 

 the bottom either covered or not covered with stone 

 to the depth of six inches, but which is now two feet 

 from the ground level. It should be noted that in 

 digging this trench for the bed the top soil should 

 be placed in one pile and the subsoil in another. 

 The top soil is the soil on the surface, which runs to 

 different depths, usually about six inches, and which 

 is composed for the most part of decayed vegetation 

 from the roots of many generations of grasses, etc. 

 It contains a percentage of humus and is, therefore, 

 very valuable as food to the rose roots. Usually it 

 is darker in color than the subsoil and can easily be 

 noted. In soils where there is a large percentage of 

 clay or loam it will not be necessary to use subsoil 

 other than that taken from the trench, as far as one- 

 third of the mixture to be put back into the bed is 

 concerned; but where soil is very gravelly or sandy 

 it would be best to secure some heavy loam or clay 

 to make the proper kind of bed. The finished bed 

 should be one-third top soil, one-third heavy clay 

 subsoil, and one-third cow manure. There will not 

 be enough top soil taken from the trench to supply 

 the one-third necessary for the bed, and more must 

 be provided. 



In localities where there is no heavy clay or loam 



there will often be found heavy, dark soil which con- 

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