38 THE BOOK OF Ti[E ROSE chap. 



in which it has been standing. The stake thus 

 shortened may often be replaced, and last at least 

 another year. 



Again, although height is as a rule more important 

 than shelter as a protection against frost, the drying 

 power of the east wind in what is called a wind 

 frost is hurtful, especially to newly planted Eoses. 

 It seems to dry the sap out of them, and if long 

 continued may do a good deal of harm. 



As strong wind is so injurious, shelter should be 

 sought for ; and that, not only on the north and 

 east, but also on the south-west, from which the 

 strongest winds generally come. Belts of close- 

 growing trees or thick and high hedges will be the 

 sort of shelter generally available, but it is most 

 important that they be not close enough, either to 

 shade the Eoses, or for their roots to enter the 

 beds. Buildings or walls are the best shelters, as 

 the protection they give is real with some refracted 

 warmth : they drop no seeds or leaves, and especially 

 they have no robbing roots. 



A place which has plenty of walls, even if most of 

 them be low ones, offers great advantages in situa- 

 tion for Eose-growing. All the Teas and Noisettes 

 can be grown to greater perfection against a wall 

 than they can in the open, with the two dis- 

 advantages that the blooms will be too early for 

 exhibition, and that the autumn crop will probably 

 not be so good. The higher walls will be useful for 

 the Noisettes and climbing Teas, or even for the 

 climbing H.P.'s or Hybrid Chinas ; and the lower 

 ones for the true Teas of more moderate growth, 

 which in the Eastern or Home Counties will in 

 ordinary seasons have first-class blooms by the first 



