84 THE WILD GARDEN. 
the tall-growing Laurels, sometimes sending out a shoot 
of white flowers on this side and sometimes on that 
side of the clump of bushes, and sometimes scrambling 
up to the tops of the tallest limbs and draping them 
with its blossoms throughout June and July. Nearly 
three years ago we had the Laurels headed down to within 
six feet of the ground, leaving the straggling limbs of the 
Rose which were found amongst them, and since then it has 
grown and thriven amazingly, and now fairly threatens to 
gain the mastery. We had the curiosity to measure the 
plant the other day, and found it rather over seventy feet in 
circumference. Within this space the plant forms an irregular 
undulating mound, nearly in all parts so densely covered with 
Roses that not so much as a hand’s breadth is left vacant any- 
where, and the Laurel branches are quite hidden, and im fact 
are now dying, smothered by the Rose. A finer example of 
luxuriant development we never saw. The plant has been a 
perfect sheet of bloom for a month or more, and there are 
thousands of buds yet to expand, and hundreds of bunches of 
buds have been cut just at the opening stage—when they are 
neater and whiter than a Gardenia—to send away. The tree 
has never received the least attention or assistance with the 
exception of the removal of the Laurel tops before mentioned, 
to let the light into it. It is growing in a tolerably deep and 
strong dry loam, and this, together with head room, seems to 
be all it requires. We record this example simply to show 
of what the Rose is capable without much cultural assistance. 
No doubt, in order to produce fine individual blooms certain 
restricted culture is necessary; but almost any variety of 
Rose will make a good-sized natural bush of itself, and as for 
