XIV CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 345 



distributed evenly. If the weather be favourable at 

 the end of the month any arrears of planting may be 

 finished and stocks of all sorts may still be set out ; 

 but Koses planted now may require watering in 

 March and April, if the weather be dry, till they 

 have got a hold. Cuttings should be examined, and 

 those that have been lifted by the frost should be 

 set firm again, either by pushing them down or 

 consolidating the soil round them. Eoses on sunny 

 walls may be pruned after the middle of the month, 

 and towards the close we may proceed with the 

 summer and hardy garden sorts. Mar^chal Niel 

 and other climbing Eoses indoors will be starting, 

 and they and all forced Eoses should be watched for 

 mildew and insects, and will require much care in 

 the regulation of air and moisture. 



March. — This is the month for pruning all outdoor 

 Eoses except Teas, but the second week will generally 

 be early enough for H.P.s in northern and midland 

 districts. The Teas should not be pruned yet, but 

 the winter protections should be most carefully 

 removed towards the end of the month. Do not be 

 persuaded to take away the shelter earlier, as the 

 weather is by no means safe yet. It is an error to 

 suppose that the winter protection forces them into 

 precocious growth, for it has just the opposite effect. 

 The same blanket that keeps a man warm will also 

 keep a block of ice cold. It is true, however, that 

 such shoots as are made under the protection grow 

 longer than they would outside simply because they 

 are not stopped by frost, but these premature 

 growths would have to come off in any case. 

 Planting may still be done, with care, but watering 

 will probably be required to follow it. The roots of 



