GARDENING FOR LITTLE GIRLS 
nearly to the top with water. After this has sunk 
in, add the rest of your rich top soil, and pack 
down hard with your foot, so as to shut out the air 
from the roots, leaving the packed earth at least 
an inch below the surrounding surface to catch 
and hold the moisture. 
Potted roses, however, should be sunk with as lit- 
tle disturbance to the roots as possible. 
Then over the smoothly raked surface of the 
bed spread leaves, litter or grass clippings, to 
keep the sun from drying out the earth. Some 
gardeners for this purpose cover the bed with pan- 
sies, English daisies, and similar low flowers, though 
many like better to see nicely cultivated soil. 
To have splendid roses, however, you must sup- 
ply plenty of food and drink! When the buds 
start, dig in around the roots every two weeks, two 
tablespoonfuls of bonemeal, and wet thoroughly. 
Manure from the chicken house is especially good 
as the chickens are meat eaters, and it is, there- 
fore, better adapted to the needs of the roses and 
easily absorbed by the rootlets. But use carefully— 
not more than a small trowelful at a time, and that 
well mixed with the soil. One of the very best foods 
is cheaply made as follows: 
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