40 BOOK OF THE COTTAGE GARDEN 



tions to green boxes holding six or twelve " distinct 

 varieties " ; to stuffy tents ; to muslin frocks, military 

 bands, and all the wearying paraphernalia of fetes and 

 flower shows. Two-thirds of the available literature on 

 Roses is concerned with the raising of prize blooms, 

 much of it being the work of "successful exhibitors." 

 All of which has resulted in the neglect of the Rose as 

 an essentially decorative plant, and of ignorance as to 

 its adaptability for numberless situations in the garden 

 where free growing, free flowering plants are desired 

 and esteemed. The cottage garden is the true home of 

 the Rose, and this chapter will suggest how Roses may 

 best be grown and appreciated. 



In the first place let us rid ourselves of the common 

 idea that Roses must always be regarded as a class of 

 plants entirely distinct from the rest ; that is to say, 

 that they require special treatment, special beds, special 

 manuring and isolated positions. It is true that when 

 Roses are grown for show purposes they are usually 

 planted stiffly in borders, the ground is thickly blanketed 

 with manure ; labels, pegs, and tin protectors are much in 

 evidence, and once a year some remarkably fine blooms 

 are produced. But this does not mean that Roses cannot 

 be grown in simpler and better ways ; they can, and the 

 result is far more beautiful. Grown as a show flower, 

 the Rose is really a poor thing in the garden. For quite 

 ten months in the year it is practically devoid of any 

 beauty whatever, and as soon as its brief flowering 

 period is over it becomes valueless as a decorative plant. 

 As well expect beauty from a row of mops as from a 

 line of standards, whose only contribution to the eternal 

 pageant of the seasons is some half-dozen apiece of stiff 

 and far too perfect blooms. Standard trees should never 

 be planted in Cottage Gardens. Nor is there any need 

 to isolate the Rose in any way whatever ; rather should 

 it be grown freely among other flowers, receiving practi- 



