PREPARATION OF THE SOIL 59 



down by hand, and has the advantage of exposing the soil to the 

 sun and air all the time. 



Roses may be successfully grown on benches or in solid beds. 

 On some of our largest places benches are used altogether; 

 on others we find all solid beds. Whatever style 

 is used good drainage is essential. On most places 

 there is little difference in the results at the end of 

 the year, providing all the essential details have been carried 

 out. If the benches give a little better result in Midwinter, 

 the solid beds will probably make up the difference in the Sum- 

 mer. Benches should be built rather narrow than wide, as the 

 former are easier to w T ork among and give better results. The 

 best Roses are grown on the outside of the benches, where they 

 get the maximum amount of air and light; those in the middle 

 of a very wide bench are always the poorest. Five feet is the 

 widest a bench should be built. We prefer one four feet wide, 

 and plant four rows of plants, sixteen inches apart in the row. 

 Other growers get good results on benches four feet three inches 

 wide and plant five rows sixteen inches apart. 



The sides of the benches may be six inches deep, which al- 

 lows for topdressing, and plants may be grown successfully 

 several years in such a bench. When the benches are filled with 

 loam, the top of the soil should be level with the bottom of the 

 glass in the sides of the house. 



Solid beds are best made by building a wall of cement, brick, 

 or tile, of the required height, and filling in the bottom with 

 any good drainage. These walls need not be more than 2 

 inches thick if good material is used. These need not be built 

 as high as the benches, on account of the expense, but should be 

 well up into the light. Give the benches a good coating of lime 

 wash and fill the house with the loam as quickly as possible. 

 Never handle the loam when it is wet if it can be avoided. Put 

 on as large a gang as possible, for this is the hardest work of the 

 year, and the mutual benefit the men get from having a crowd 



