ROSE 393 



it over. In Holland, roses are allowed to stand about eight years. 

 They are then taken out and their places filled with young plants. 



Soil and planting for roses. 



The best soil for roses is a deep and rich clay loam. If it is mor^ or 

 less of a fibrous character from the pressncs of grasi roots, as is the 

 case with newly plowed sod ground, so much the better. While such 

 is desirable, any ordinary soil will answer, provided it is well manured. 

 Cow manure is strong and lasting, and has no heating effect. It will 

 cause no damage, even if not rotted. Horse manure, however, should 

 be well rotted before mixing it with the soil. The manure may be 

 mixed in the soil at the rate of one part in four. If well rotted, how- 

 ever, more will not do any damage, as the soil can scarcely be made 

 too rich, especially for the everblooming (hybrid tea) roses. Care 

 should be taken to mix the manure thoroughly with the earth, and not 

 to plant the roses against the manure. 



In planting, care must be taken to avoid exposing the roots to the 

 drying of sun and air. If dormant field-grown plants have been pur- 

 chased, all broken and bruised roots will need to be cut off smoothly 

 and squarely. The tops also will need cutting back. The cut should 

 always be made just above a bud, preferably on the outer side of the 

 cane. Strong-growing sorts may be cut back one-fourth or one-half, 

 according as they have good or bad roots. Weaker-growing kinds, 

 as most of the everblooming roses, should be cut back most severely. 

 In both cases it is well to remove the weak growth first. Plants set 

 out from pots will usually not need cutting back. 



Hardy roses, especially the strong field-grown plants, should be set 

 in the early fall if practicable. It is desirable to get them out just as 

 soon as they have shed their foliage. If not then, they may be planted 

 in the early spring. At that season it is advisable to plant them as 

 early as the ground is dry enough, and before the buds have started 

 to grow. Dormant pot-plants may also be set out early, but they 

 should be perfectly inactive. Setting them out early in this condi- 

 tion is preferable to waiting till they are in foliage and full bloom, as 

 is so often required by buyers. Growing pot-plants may be planted 

 any time in spring after danger of frost is past, or even during the sum- 

 mer, if they are watered and shaded for a few days. 



