62 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



FEEDING 



Roses when established, whether in the open ground or in pots, 

 are gross feeders, but they are not omnivorous. They have their 

 likes and their dislikes, added to which the nature of the soil in 

 which they are growing has a considerable bearing upon the 

 character of the food to be administered. Roses planted in heavy 

 soils do not call for heavy, cool manures like those from the byre 

 and pigsty, while those planted in light, shallow, and dry soils 

 call for something cooler and heavier than ordinary stable manure. 



We look upon the presence of these natural organic manures 

 in the soil as equivalent to the " staff of life " and upon all others 

 as perhaps necessary supplements. The condition in which these 

 bulky manures are applied is of some consequence, as also is the 

 manner of their application. Nothing except a bad attack of mildew 

 is to be gained by digging in with a spade solid masses of less than 

 half-decayed strawy manure, for it is essential to successful culti- 

 vation that this should be well rotted, easily disintegrated and 

 evenly incorporated with the soil. Only as a mulch should it be 

 partly rotted, and we are great believers in using it in that condition 

 for mulching in the later part of spring when the juices can be washed 

 into the roots and new supplies of food made available when most 

 needed without disturbing the soil. 



We must repeat the words " when established." Nothing can 

 benefit by manure until there are roots new roots to take hold of 

 it, while, per contra, positive injury may easily accrue as the result 

 of applying it to non-established or unhealthy plants. 



It might be naturally retorted, " You recommend planting 

 in well-manured soil." So we do, and that is why we insist upon 

 using only thoroughly rotted manures which can be so completely 

 incorporated with the native soil that its presence has no deleterious 

 mechanical effects. There must be no bulk, but a complete dissemi- 

 nation, and with very little care in planting it can be so done that 

 little if any manure be brought into close contact with the roots, 

 being so distributed as to remain sufficiently near to be seized 

 upon and absorbed by the earliest emission of new roots. 



An approved way of maintaining the supply of phosphates is 

 by working in a good dressing of crushed bones, and even if some 



