the water they must have, even if they have to 

 come to the surface for it. Apropos of the intel- 

 ligence of roses you probably will not credit what 

 I am going to tell you, that there is a plant of 

 the Syrian desert called the Rose of Jericho and 

 about the size of our common daisy plant, which 

 in dry seasons, when the earth about its roots 

 is turned into mere sand, has the intelligence and 

 presence of mind to detach itself from its hold 

 altogether, and roll itself into a ball, flower, root 

 and all. It is then blown away over the sand by 

 the wind until it finds some moist and sheltered 

 spot, where it expands again, takes hold on the 

 ground, uplifts its head and merrily blooms once 

 more. 



^ So when watering your roses give the beds a 

 thorough soaking, but bear in mind to avoid 

 overhead watering. Of course once in a while it 

 is not only advisable, but desirable that the 

 foliage be cleansed by giving it a good overhead 

 spraying with clear, clean water. 

 ^ During a drought, or when there has been but 



17 



