134 BRIEF RULES. 



No. IX. BRIEF RULES. 

 [From " The Gardeners' Chronicle," 1863, p. 581.] 



PERHAPS I cannot do better than end this series of 

 papers on Roses by a few brief rules, which may assist 

 those who delight in managing their own plants, but have 

 not the leisure or inclination to study their habits and 

 requirements. 



1. The best soil for Roses is a strong loam well 

 enriched with decayed stable manure ; if the soil is not 

 of this nature, it should be improved by the addition of 

 such as far as possible. 



2. For light soils use cow-dung and poudrette instead 

 of stable manure, merely mulching with the latter early 

 in May. 



3. Prune at two seasons ; thin out the supernumerary 

 shoots in November, and shorten those that are left in 

 March. 



4. Remember that the Summer Roses should be 

 thinned more freely, and shortened less than the Autum- 

 nals. 



. 5. Always cut back to a bud which has a tendency 

 to grow outwards, rubbing out those buds which are 

 directed inwards. 



6. Destroy Aphides so soon as seen ; by brushing 

 them off or washing the shoots with tobacco-water out 

 of doors, and by fumigating with tobacco under glass. 



7. Check mildew by dusting sulphur on the leaves 

 while moist with rain or dew. 



8. Water freely during the growing season if very dry. 



9. Never buy old Roses on the Manetti stock until 

 you have proved that they will not flourish in your soil 

 either on the Dog Rose or on their own roots. The 

 new Roses you must buy on the Manetti, or wait till 

 they are raised by the slower process of budding or by 

 cuttings. 



