CH. V MANURES 75 



if they are placed in the planting in contact with 

 fresh, raw, and insufficiently decayed manure. The 

 roots of the Eose like to run and feed in thoroughly 

 fertilised soil of the proper texture and quality in 

 preference to actual manure ; and this is why fresh 

 soil, the top " spit "of an old pasture with the turf, 

 liquid manner of different sorts, or artificial if the 

 exact amount of proportions can be found, have 

 more satisfactory results as a rule than any quantity 

 of solid manure incorporated in the soil. 



It may be said that the soils of many a garden are, 

 from long manuring, thoroughly fertilised earth : and 

 indeed the manetti stock, which seems to like this 

 sort of ground, budded with H.P.s in a favourable 

 situation (that is, well away from trees or shrubs 

 or any strong vegetation), will often give very 

 satisfactory results the first season in an old garden. 

 But this dark old soil, very rich in humus and 

 decayed vegetable matter, though it may be much 

 benefited by a dressing of lime, is generally wanting 

 in some of the mineral constituents which the Eose 

 requires, for though heavily manured it has probably 

 been also heavily cropped, and the Eose likes fresh 

 virgin soil if possible. A naturally strong, rich, 

 rather heavy loam is what the H.P. rose likes, as 

 fresh and unrobbed as possible ; but wonders may 

 be done for the Teas by manure, solid and liquid, 

 even on a poor light soil. 



1. Natural Solid Manure. — It will be seen 

 from the above that I do not consider solid manure 

 to be the best form in which to give food to Eoses, 

 provided they be planted in good fresh dark soil that 

 is sufficiently rich in humus. But many other good 

 authorities may very likely be of a different opinion, 



