96 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



far more favourable to a union than hot, dry weather and 

 blazing sun-heat. If the buds begin to grow and form shoots, 

 the ties should be loosened to allow of the natural swelling 

 that is taking place ; but if the bud does not start, the ties 

 need not be interfered with. 



Other methods of propagation are by layers, by division, and 

 by suckers, but neither of these can be recommended. 



Soil. — Although the Rose will grow practically everywhere, good 

 drainage is essential to get really healthy plants and the best 

 results ; therefore, if the soil is not porous, or is water-logged, the 

 defects should be remedied by the addition of sand, road- 

 scrapings, or similar material, while drains ought to be put in 

 to carry away any excess of water at the roots. A good, rich, 

 and rather heavy loamy soil is excellent for all classes of Roses, 

 but, unfortunately, such ground is far from being always avail- 

 able ; consequently, the best use must be made of the soil at 

 hand. If the soil is naturally sandy or gravelly, and quickly parts 

 with moisture, the addition of clay or marl, and manuring with 

 cow-dung, will prove highly beneficial. On the other hand, if it 

 is very heavy and tenacious, strawy-manure and other ingredients 

 that will make the soil more open in texture is advisable, 

 trenching the ground 2ft. deep when adding the above. This 

 should be done some little time before planting, viz., in August 

 or September, and the planting should be completed by the 

 middle or end of October. If Roses are planted at the time 

 mentioned, they root at once, and become semi-established, 

 bearmg a good crop of fine flowers the following year ; the only 

 exception is in very cold exposed positions or situations. Tea 

 and Hybrid Tea Roses should not be planted in October, but at 

 the end of February. If planted at the first-named season, and 

 a hard winter follows, they would most probably succumb to 

 the frost, and the cost and labour of planting would be wasted. 

 If the soil is good, and has been manured well some time prior 

 to planting, no manure should be placed with the soil that 

 comes in direct contact with the roots ; but if the ground is 

 hungry and poor, and has not been enriched for some time, a 

 little thoroughly-decayed manure mixed with the soil is beneficial. 

 On no account should raw fresh manure be mixed therewith 

 when planting, or come into contact with roots, as it would act 

 like poison to them. If the planting is done in the autumn or 

 early spring, a mulch of strawy-manure is always advisable, as 

 it acts as a protection against frost in winter and drought in 



