56 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



drainage, natural or artificial, no success can be 

 achieved. In any soil there should be perfect 

 drainage, as cultivation depends upon it in many 

 ways. All really worthless soil, chalk, gravel, or 

 sand should be taken away, but long before this 

 should have been the hunt among neighbouring 

 farmers and landowners for good Eose material to 

 take its place. When found and purchased, this 

 good loam — the top spit of an old pasture if possible 

 — heavy and strong, but not actual clay if good loam 

 can be found, should be carted to the spot while the 

 ground is yet hard in September, for the Roses are 

 to be planted early in November, and the soil will 

 do well to rest and consolidate a while before 

 planting. 



Let the beds be dug out, as advised, to the depth 

 of two clear spades at least ; and let it be under- 

 stood that the material is to be made up in two 

 portions or layers, whereof the lower is to be the 

 larger. If among grass, reserve the turf to be 

 chopped up and mixed into the upper portion. 

 Next lay on one side all soil in the top spadefuls 

 that seems fairly fertile, however light and dry ; it 

 will be useful for a thin layer in immediate contact 

 with the roots, for mixing very slightly with the 

 lower portion but more fully with the upper part, 

 and for forming the topmost two inches of the bed. 

 Then dig out the remainder of the depth agreed 

 on, and see that the drainage is right. If the soil 

 be good replace it, and if it be worthless cart it 

 away, and fill in with the imported soil, which if it 

 be actual clay should also have a good deal of the 

 lighter material worked in as thoroughly as possible. 

 This lower portion should be about two-thirds of 



