156 CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 



is saturated with rain, it dries it ; if burned up with drought, it 

 moistens it. Watering is often beneficial, and is particularly so 

 to roses just before and during the period of bloom ; but in an 

 extremely dry season, if we were obliged to choose between the 

 watering-pot and the spade, we should most unhesitatingly give 

 the preference to the latter. 



