The Canadian Horticulturist. 267 



Xl7e harder) ai)d I^aLcQ. 



THE CULTURE OF ROSES. 



F you want roses, they must be in the richest part of your rich bed. 

 You cannot give roses too much rich feeding, and you cannot keep 

 them too clean. They must be thoroughly watered, and the plants 

 T^ syringed with whale-oil soap, dissolved in luke-warm water, once a 

 week at first, and later once a month, if there are no bugs. Instantly 

 V"^^ when you see a single bug, those small, green parasites, thoroughly 

 syringe with whale-oil soap. Water once a week with a wateringpotful of luke- 

 warm water in which a tablespoonful of nitrate of soda has been dissolved. This 

 can be bought in crude form at any druggist's at ten cents a pound. This en 

 riches the plant and improves the flowers. Let no rose remain on the plant 

 when it is in full bloom. It exhausts the plant very much. 



If your climate is mild you may have a wide choice of roses. If a New 

 England climate, do not waste your time on many roses hut the hybrid remon- 

 tants. They will usually winter with some protection, and they give lavish 

 bloom, and the robust growth of the plant, with its solid leaves, is, to my mind, 

 handsomer than any other rose but a few teas. It is well to have some teas for 

 perpetual blooming and the beauty of the flowers, but they must be taken into 

 the house in winter. 



Roses, like poppies and marigolds, need sun. Set your roses out in the 

 autumn only if your winter is mild. If you have a severe winter climate, start 

 them in the spring. Then they will get firmly established by the autumn, and 

 winter more safely. They must be " laid down " as late as possible — that is, 

 gently bent to the ground and fastened so by means of twigs put over them like 

 little arches, the ends of the twigs firmly stuck in the ground ; then, according 

 to the severity of the winter, cover them with straw, leaves, litter cloths, lighdy 

 or heavily, as the winter may demand. A snowless winter is their greatest 

 enemy. — Mrs. Dewing, in Harper s Bazar. 



Soil for Grapes. — Most varieties delight in a sandy or gravelly loam, 

 made rich by potash, lime, and bone. Heavy soils do not suit the grape, and, 

 if wet, they require drainage, and are improved, if very flat and wet, by ridging. 

 The different types and thair crosses, generally delight in the same ktnd of soil 

 as those natural to them where originally found. Thus, those of the .-Estivalis 

 class thrive more successfully on dry or poor lime and sandy soils. Those of the 

 Labrusca, a more moist soil, richer in potash than lime. Those of the Riparia 

 are not so nice as to locality, but dislike a wet or heavy clay, and dry limestone 

 soil. With proper care we can make all varieties, not too far unsuitable thrive 

 on almost any soil, and produce abundant crops. — Orchard and Garden. 



