60 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



a good soaking with water, and at the end of three 

 days the plants will generally be restored to their 

 original condition. 



The very first opportunity when the soil is com- 

 paratively dry should be chosen for the planting, and 

 one of the most important points to remember is 

 that the roots should never be allowed to become 

 dry; they should be kept under matting or damp 

 leaves or soil till actually wanted, and exposed to 

 the air as little as possible. Some recommend the 

 dipping the roots in a pail of thick puddle composed 

 of clay, cocoanut fibre dust, and water, as a protec- 

 tion from drying air : but I do not think this is 

 necessary or advisable where there are small fibrous 

 roots, as these get matted together and cannot be 

 separated without some danger of injury. In spring 

 planting, if the sun be bright, it is safest to carry 

 the Roses in a pail of water from the place where 

 they have been laid in during the winter to the bed 

 where they are to be planted. 



Another equally important point is that the Eoses 

 should not be planted too deeply. I consider four 

 inches sufficient for " dwarfs " ; standards may be 

 planted an inch or so deeper, and a little further 

 apart from each other. Comparatively shallow 

 planting, especially if the Roses are going to be 

 cultivated, and not neglected, is a great secret of 

 success. A good piece of advice is to mark the line 

 of soil upon the plant, and be careful not to cover it 

 deeper than it was before ; and a had one is to plant 

 deeper in light soil to avoid the drought. The prin- 

 ciple of shallow planting and dependence on hori- 

 zontal surface roots is well understood by gardeners 

 in the case of fruit trees ; they will take much pains 



