On the Culture of Roses, 205 



m . The bed should then be filled up with a compost of 

 nearly equal parts of turfy loam, or loam from old pasture 

 land, and vegetable mould, or very rotten manure, mixed with 

 about the eighth part of the whole of sand. When climbing 

 roses are planted for forming pyramids or pillars, a pit about 

 eighteen inches in diameter, or rather more, should be pre- 

 pared in this manner for each rose ; and a similar plan should 

 be adopted in every situation where any particular rose is 

 wanted to grow with great luxuriance. 



The bed or pit having been prepared, and raised a little 

 above -the general level of the garden, to allow for the new 

 ground settling, the roses should be taken up, and their roots 

 having been carefully examined, and all the bruised parts cut 

 off, they should be planted about two feet apart, if of the del- 

 icate growing kinds; or three feet apart, if of those kinds 

 which are very strong and robust. Roses should always be 

 planted carefully, with their roots well spread out ; and they 

 should be kept out of the ground as short a time as possible. 

 They should be frequently watered, for some time after plant- 

 ing, and a little fresh stable manure should be laid on the sur- 

 face of the ground, over the roots. 



The hybrid China roses are the best for forming pyramids 

 and pillars, as they make shoots generally from six to ten feet 

 long every season, and their branches are flexible, as well as 

 vigorous. Their foliage is also very luxuriant, and healthy, 

 and their flowers very beautiful, and of clear and delicate 

 colors. They require a very rich soil, and when pruned, 

 their shoots should never be shortened ; but those that have 

 become old should be cut of close to the main stem, and abun- 

 dance of young wood left, as shoots two years old always pro- 

 duce the best flowers. 



The season for budding roses extends from July to Septem- 

 ber ; and as it is an operation admirably suited to ladies, from 

 its requiring skill rather than strength, we shall here give 

 some directions for performing it. The first thing necessary, 

 is to procure a proper knife ; that is, one with the haft made 

 thin at the end, for the purpose of raising the bark after the 

 incision is made. The knives usually sold for budding are 

 sharply pointed, but if one can be procured with a round 



