THE WARS OF THE ROSES 335 



that none of the Teas or Hybrid Teas were to be 

 on Manetti stock, and no substitutes allowed! 



Patiently the combatants waited for chill 

 October — and the Rose trees. They were, how- 

 ever, not idle in the meantime, setting to work 

 to prepare the soil for the treasures to come. 

 They dug often, and they dug deeply, two im- 

 portant facts which all who till the soil might 

 take to heart with advantage. 



At last the trees arrived! What excitement 

 there was in unpacking something over three 

 hundred trees. What notes were made, and what 

 comments were passed as to the dead and fading 

 blossoms on the trees, the general appearance,, 

 and the prospects of success during the next 

 Summer! 



And the planting! Oh! what a business T 

 Suffice it to say, the trees were all carefully planted,, 

 roots well spread out, like a Spider's legs, and all 

 the best advice of Melliar, Jekyll, Hole, and other 

 Rosarians carried out to the letter. Although 

 both Smith and Brown are great adherents of Free- 

 Trade in the general acceptation of the meaning 

 thereof, they are great believers in Protection, so 

 far as that much-maligned word concerns Rose 

 trees! The neighbouring woodlands were scoured 

 for Bracken and dead leaves wherewith to shelter 

 the tender trees from the frost, snow, and cold 

 winds. This accomplished, each patiently waited. 



