ROSES 



A GOOD start in Rose-growing is most essential. Many 

 failures in gardening are simply the result of beginning in an 

 unreasonable way, thinking nothing perhaps of the soil, the 

 varieties, whether they are vigorous, free, or the reverse, and 

 the treatment necessary to ensure a happy life. The Rose is 

 the flower of the English garden, and its value increases as we 

 grow accustomed to the charms of the Tea-scented varieties, 

 and know something of the wonderful beauty of the climbers, 

 the Dorothy Perkins, Tausendschon, and many other ram- 

 bling kinds that fling their flower-laden shoots over arch, 

 pergola, and pillar, and sometimes look into the window to 

 flood the house with perfume. 



The Soil is a matter of some importance, but the great majority of 

 growers are compelled to make the best of the garden as it is, and are not 

 in a position to bring in a large amount of fresh material. Ground that has 

 been occupied with vegetables is usually in excellent condition for Roses. 

 The best position in the garden should be given to the Roses. It is 

 unreasonable to expect an abundant harvest of flowers from plants 

 under the shade of trees, or soil already filled with roots from a neigh- 

 bouring shrubbery. 



We will assume, therefore, that the bed is in the centre of the garden, 

 or some spot about which the ardent rosarian would not quarrel. The 

 Rose absolutely revels in sunshine and air, and the aspect cannot be too 

 carefully selected for the bed. A convenient size for the bed would 

 be about 20 feet long and 6 feet wide. This would provide space 

 for about thirty Rose bushes. The preparation of the bed is of first 

 importance, and should be carried out, if possible, not later than 

 September, if autumn planting (by far the best) be adopted. Unques- 

 tionably the best soil for all Roses (except those of the Tea-scented and 

 allied tribes) is a strong, rather heavy, even clayey loam. In this soil 

 the Hybrid Perpetual kinds are very happy, but if light and sandy, then 

 the Tea-scented and Hybrid Teas should predominate. In making pre- 

 paration for bastard trenching or double digging the bed, mark out the 

 length and width with a line. 



Divide the bed off into six sections as illustrated on next page. The 

 soil of section A is dug out to the depth of the spade and placed on the 

 path at the other end of the bed, C. The broken soil is then shovelled out 

 and placed at C also. The second or lower spit of section A is then broken 



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