The Rose Garden. 



thrown, heavy or light, turfy or not, as may be at our command, or whichever is 

 thought best suited to the character of the soil we wish to improve. Upon this the 

 night-soil is lowered from the cart, and a sufficient quantity of loam thrown in to 

 absorb the whole. The heap should then be covered over closely with a layer of 

 earth about a foot thick, and remain closed for about six months. It may then be 

 broken up, more or less, according to its state, mixing dry soil, or ashes, or burnt earth 

 with it in the operation, and casting it up in ridges. About a month afterwards it 

 may be turned over again, that the night-soil may be well mixed with the loam. In 

 autumn it may be carried to the places where required, and forked in as other manures, 

 or it may be scattered over the beds immediately after they are forked over in spring, 

 when it will be washed down by the rains. We cannot conceive of any description of 

 manure to surpass this, applied to Roses on light soils. By its use we administer at the 

 same time a cool and rich fertiliser and a substance calculated to be of permanent 

 benefit to the soil. 



It may be thought that guano should be a good manure for Roses on cold and 

 poor soils. It probably might prove so if used sparingly, and in conjunction with 

 vegetable manures. I do not, however, think guano the best manure for Roses in the 

 generality of soils. It certainly increases the vigour of the plant, but seems to act 

 more favourably on the foliage than on the flowers. It may be said this is due to the 

 use of it in excess. But this I am not disposed to grant. In the spring of 1846 I 

 scattered guano in variable quantities over some newly-forked beds of Roses, just as 

 the buds were pushing forth. The soil where this experiment was made is a dry 

 loam, rather stiff, of excellent staple, but poor. The sub-soil, to the depth of twelve 

 feet, is a yellow loam or brick earth. Below this is gravel. In every instance where 

 the guano was applied the growth was more vigorous, and the foliage developed of 

 extraordinary richness and beauty ; but the flowers were coarse and unsatisfactory. 

 Such were the consequences attending its use to plants in full health on one soil ; on 

 soils otherwise constituted the results might be different. 



Roses should have manure applied to them at least once a year. It should be in 

 a decayed state, and may be dug in, when the borders are dug, in spring ; or laid on 

 the surface afterwards, to be washed in by the rains. When manure is applied in such 

 state as to be capable of yielding immediate nourishment to a plant, spring would 

 seem the better season to apply it. The roots are then in full action, and every 

 shower of rain places a supply of food within their reach. If manure is applied in 

 autumn a great part of its nutritive properties may be carried beyond the reach 

 of the roots by the frequent and heavy rains of winter. 



