266 The Rose Amateur^ s Guide. 



same plants ; this fact is borne out by the statements of 

 Mr. Buist relative to the Lamarqne, which vv^e have quoted, 

 in a previous page, 261. We cannot, therefore, too highly 

 re(?onnnend tlie perpetuals and liybrid perpetuals to the 

 notice of all lovers of roses, keeping np as they do an abun- 

 dant bloom till the approach of winter. The following 

 hints on the management of these plants will be interest- 

 ing :— 



As the culture of this class of roses is at present but imperfectly under- 

 stood, I shall give the result of my experience as to their cultivation, with 

 suggestions to be acted upon according to circumstances. One peculiar 

 feature they nearly all possess — a reluctance to root when layered ; con- 

 sequently, Perpetual Roses, on their own roots, will always be scarce ; 

 when it is possible to procure them, they will be found to flourish much 

 better on dry poor soils than when grafted, as at present. Perpetual Roses 

 require a superabundant quantity of food : it is therefore perfectly ridicu- 

 lous to plaut them on dry lawns, to suffer the grass to grow close up to 

 their stems, and not to give them a particle of manure for years. Under 

 these circumstances, the best varieties, even the Rose du Roi, will scarcely 

 ever give a second series of flowers. To remedy the inimical nature of 

 dry soils to this class of roses, an annual application of manure on the sur- 

 face of the soil is quite necessary. The ground must not be dug, but 

 lightly pricked over with a fork in November ; after which, some manure 

 must be laid on, about two or three inches in depth, which ought not to be 

 disturbed, except to clean with the hoe and rake, till the following au- 

 tumn. This, in some situations, in the spring months, will be unsightly : 

 in such cases, cover with some nice green moss, as directed in the culture 

 of Hybrid China Roses. I have said that this treatment is applicable to 

 dry poor soils ; but even in good rose soils it is almost necessary ; for it 

 will give such increased vigor, and such a prolongation of the flowering 

 season, as amply to repay the labor bestowed. If the soil is prepared, as 

 directed, they will twice in the year require pruning ; in November, when 

 the beds are dressed, and again in the beginning of June. In the Novem- 

 ber pruning, cut off from every shoot of the preceding summer's growth 

 about two thirds : if they are crowded, remove some of them entirely. If 

 this autumnal pruning is attended to, there will be, early in June, the 

 following summer, a vast number of luxuriant shoots, each crowned with 

 a cluster of buds. Now, as June roses are always abundant, a little sac- 

 rifice must be made to ensure a fine autumnal bloom ; therefore, leave only 

 half the number of shoots to bring forth their summer flowers, the re- 

 mainder shorten to about half their length. Each shortened branch will 

 soon put forth buds ; and in August and September the plants will again 

 be covered with flowers. In cultivating Perpetual Roses, the faded flow- 

 ers ought immediately to be removed ; for in autumn the petals do not 

 fall oft" readily but lose their color and remain on the plant, to the injury of 

 the forthcoming buds. Though I have recommended Perpetual Roses to 

 be grown on their own roots, in dry soils, yet, on account of the autumnal 

 rains dashing the dirt upon their flowers when close to the ground , wherever 

 it is possible to make grafted roses grow, they ought to be preferred ; for, 



