CULTURE OP THE ROSE. 147 



best to apply it in this country a month earlier. Where a bed or 

 border of roses is to be planted, it is well to dig out the soil to the 

 depth of two or two and a half feet ; fill the bottom to the depth of 

 six inches with small stone, and then replace the earth, well fertil- 

 ized, as directed above. Nothing is more injurious to the Rose 

 than a wet, retentive subsoil ; and where expense and trouble are 

 no object, this perfect draining is much the best calculated to en- 

 sure a thrifty growth and perfect bloom. A rich and dry soil, is 

 in fact all-important ; for otherwise the most double flower will 

 frequently become single or semi-double. We have seen a plant 

 of La Reine produce a perfect flower in the green-house, and when 

 removed to an inferior soil, produce flowers almost single. It 

 may therefore be safely laid down as a rule, that it is impossible 

 to make the soil too rich for the Rose, and that in proportion to 

 the fertilizing matter contained therein, provided it is properly 

 decomposed, will be the approximation of the plant and the flower 

 to perfection. The fertility of the soil may be very much assisted 

 by frequent applications of liquid manure, made either of cow 

 dung or guano ; the former is always safe ; the latter, valuable 

 if properly used, may, in the hands of a careless person, ruin 

 the plant. 



In these remarks on fertility of soil, we have no desire to dis- 

 courage those who may not have a fertile soil, or the means of 

 obtaining the elements of fertility. The Rose will grow and bloom 

 in any soil ; the wood will be healthy, but short and small ; the 

 flower will be produced, but as we have said before, will be smaller 

 and often semi-double ; yet even under these disadvantages, it is 

 still the most desirable flower for the poor man ; none other can 

 so cheaply and so well ornament his small yard, or hanging in 

 graceful festoons about his windows, shed forth its bloom and 

 sweetness to enliven his hours of relief from labor, and give his 

 children happiness, from the association of pleasant thought with 

 natural beauty. But the poor man has within his reach more 

 than he supposes of the elements of fertility. The ashes of his 

 hearth, the decomposed turf of the road-side, and the domestic 

 manure, too generally thrown away, all contain some of the best 



