22O 



Gardening for Amateurs 



the Roses, and rob them of nutriment and 

 moisture. In fact nothing could be worse 

 for Roses, and many or all would prob- 

 ably die, or live but stunted, useless, and 

 unhealthy lives if planted too near big 

 trees. 



Roses do not mind wind in moderation 

 so long as they have some shelter, something 

 to break the force of, or to protect them 

 from gales. A spot too warm and sheltered 

 encourages the spread of mildew. Some 



Rose Re"ne Andre en fence. 



people prefer a wall or shelter, but we think 

 it better for the Roses if the wind be simply 

 filtered through a natural screen of vegeta- 

 tion, if we may be permitted to use the ex- 

 pression, such as a) hedge. Now, there are 

 hedges and hedges, and some that we have 

 seen would be little protection against bois- 

 terous winds. 



Hedges for Shelter. A Beech, Holly, 

 Yew, Privet, or Thorn hedge provides good 

 shelter, one almost as well as another, and 

 if an existing hedge is well placed and well 

 grown, it would be a pity to remove it. 

 If a hedge has to be made, it may very well 

 consist of the stronger and less valuable tall- 

 growing Roses, such as Penzance Briers, 



Rugosa, Multiflora, or Wichuraiana climbing 

 Roses planted on an open wooden fence. 

 If the rosery is to be surrounded by a hedge 

 other than one of roses it is important to 

 leave a space of several feet between the 

 Roses and the hedge, and every year a trench 

 should be dug in the spring 2 to 3 feet deep, 

 parallel with the hedge, and some 3 feet 

 from it ; in doing this take care that all 

 roots extending from the hedge in the 

 direction of the Rose beds are cut through, 

 and as many of the fibrous 

 roots as can be found should 

 be taken out of the soil on the 

 inner side. This is to prevent 

 the hedge from robbing the 

 Roses of the food specially 

 provided for them. If the 

 hedge be one of Privet the 

 trench need be only 2 feet 

 from the base of the hedge, as 

 Privet is a terrible robber, and 

 needs to be guarded against 

 perhaps most closely. The 

 very worst material to make 

 a hedge of is probably Elder; 

 it has every bad quality and 

 no good one. 



The situation of the Rose 

 garden is highly important. It 

 should face in a southerly 

 direction if possible. South- 

 south-east is. perhaps, the best 

 aspect, or failing that south- 

 west, and if there be a fall it 

 should be to the south. Roses 

 always do best if they get 

 the morning sun. 



In all districts there is a quarter from 

 which the worst winds may be expected, 

 and if there be no hedge, wall, or trees on 

 that side of the Rose garden, some sort of a 

 screen must be erected, unless, of course, the 

 worst winds come from between south-east 

 and south-west, in which case the Roses 

 would have to make the best of it. 



Preparing a Rose Bed. Almost as 

 important as the position of the garden is the 

 quality of the soil. The best soil for growing 

 Roses is a more or less heavy loam, the worst 

 is probably dry, hot, sandy ground, but 

 Roses may be grown with greater or less 

 success in almost any soil, for this can be 



