Roses, 585 



shaded and confined place. Dwarf, thick hedges, or other 

 shelter at a moderate distance from the beds are necessary in 

 exposed situations, especially for protection against the south- 

 west gales, during the flowering season. A rich, deep, loamy 

 soil is the best for all purposes, and where the soil is naturally 

 poor, the addition of good rotten dung will be sufficient to 

 produce the most satisfactory results. Roses delight in newly- 

 broken-up pasture land, where the turf is turned in ; and for 

 a season or two very little manure is necessary. They are 

 now grown in various forms, according to the taste of the 

 cultivator, or the exigencies of the locality. Leaving climbing 

 and tender species out of the question, we have dwarf bushy 

 plants, either on their own roots, or budded, or grafted on 

 some other form close to the ground ; and those with stems, 

 varying from a few inches to several feet in height, and 

 termed half-standard or standard. No rules can be given to 

 guide intending growers in selecting any particular form, fur- 

 ther than to remark that the situation and associations should 

 be studied. In very bleak localities tall standards should be 

 avoided in favour of dwarf bushes. As a rule, the finest blooms 

 are obtained from dwarf plants, especially when on their own 

 roots, and most of the vigorous-growing kinds will succeed in 

 this way. Standard plants are suited for mixing in with dwarf 

 shrubs or Roses, and also in some situations as single specimens 

 in the centre of a bed ; but groups of standard Roses have a 

 very stiff and unpleasing effect. And, moreover, tho3e budded 

 on tall stems are much more liable to early decay. However, 

 all of the different methods have their advantages, and properly 

 utilised are desirable. The Tea, Noisette, and other tender 

 Roses are better suited for covering dwarf walls, or grown as 

 dwarf bushes where they can be protected ; a light, warm, well- 

 drained soil being indispensable to success. Besides those 

 varieties specially employed for planting in beds or borders, 

 either as standards or dwarfs, there are many climbing varieties 

 adapted for clothing pillars, walls, banks, stems of trees, or 

 festooning. Descriptions and other information will be found 

 in the first part of this work. 



To obtain abundance of flower, attention to pruning in 

 accordance with the conditions of the different varieties is re- 

 quisite. Nothing would seem more natural to the inexperienced 

 grower than to prune freely where there is plenty of wood to 

 cut away, and to spare the growth of the less vigorous ; but 



