:316 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDEXIXG. 



Could one insui'c a week's dripping weather 

 towards the end of June, the majority of Hybrid 

 Perpetual Eoses might he safely re-planted, if 

 necessary, so soon as their first flowering season was 

 over. The Eoses have thus a sort of breathing -time 

 or raterregnum between the finish of one set of flowers 

 and the start for a second. At this stage there is a 

 mixture of autumnal and vernal conditions. Some of 

 the sap seems descending, while another portion is 

 preparing to ascend, and it is found by dii-ect experi- 

 ment that Eoses transplanted at midsummer re-root 

 with exceptional celerity. 



Eoses will also grow, and sometimes thiive well, 

 planted at any season from October to May. 



Some Eose-growers even profess to prefer spring 

 to autumn planting, their favourite months being 

 February and March ; the latter being, as a rule, the 

 most unsuitable month in all the twelve for any 

 planting whatsoever. But should genial weather 

 •ensue, and a little extra care be given, spring 

 planting often proves fairly successful. It has this 

 advantage, that in forming new Eose-beds or rosaries, 

 the ground may be prej)ared easily in the autimm, 

 be trenched up, and mellowed thi'oughout the winter, 

 and prove tolerably sweet as well as fine by the end 

 •of March, when the planting may take place. 



What is called the sunmier planting of Eoses 

 mostly applies to those in pots, and may be con- 

 tinued throughout May and June. Exceptional 

 circumstances may also compel the rosarian to plant 

 at these or still more risk^^ times. But all these 

 seasons may be looked upon as exceptional times for 

 planting, and the success that has attended them in 

 no way lessens the force of all that has been urged in 

 favour of planting Eoses in general in the last weeks 

 of October and aU through Xovember. 



Place to Plant. — This resolves itself into the 

 two questions of site and soil. Fortunately Eoses are 

 not very particular as to either, or rather it would be 

 more correct to say, that in the rich variety of Eoses 

 there are those that will thrive on any site and in 

 any soil. On the other hand, it is equally true that 

 no site nor soil can be too good or too fostering for 

 the best Eoses. "V\Tiere individual excellency of 

 bloom only is desired, there is no better place than a 

 portion of the kitchen garden or farm-yard, where 

 the rich manuj'ings, surface mulchings, heav\' flood- 

 ings vnih sewage, all so needful or useful to the 

 •development of perfect Eoses, may be given ad 

 libitum, without interfering in any way with the 

 ■daintiness of the flower garden, or the charms of the 

 well-kept lawn. 



Southern, south-eastern or south-western, and 

 western sites or waUs will be found the best for the 

 -more tender Tea, Noisette, and Banksian Eoses. By 



planting some of the hardier of these classes in 

 colder sites, the succession of bloom may be greatly 

 prolonged, and the chai-acter of the flowers of se\-erai 

 varieties so altered, enlarged, and improved, as 

 hardly to be recognised. For it is qmte a mistake 

 to assume that Eoses cannot have too much heat or 

 sunlight. Xot a few of our finest Eoses may be 

 speedily burnt out of all true character and con- 

 dition. For example, very few of our dark Hybrid 

 Perpetuals can maintain their high condition on a 

 south wall. Even a southern site in many localities, 

 especially if on a slope, is far from being the best for 

 Eoses ; and some of the finest ever seen have been 

 grown on northern and eastern aspects. Of course, 

 when gro-^Ti in fields, Eoses have to take their chance 

 as other crops ; but in such cases a considerable 

 choice of sites is often possible, and many artificial 

 expedients, such as shelters and shading, ai'e used to 

 preserve or more fully develop the qualities of the 

 flowers. 



The most perfect site or situation for a bed, border, 

 or garden of Eoses shotdd marry the three S's — sim, 

 shade, shelter — to air. 



Sunlight and heat must be ample without being 

 excessive. From da^vn to noon, or from noon to 

 dark, is as much direct sunshine as any Eose or class 

 of Eoses know what to do with. Even considerably 

 less than this will prove ample for all sorts and con- 

 ditions of Eoses under the cloudless skies and baking- 

 heats of June. The morning sunlight is, on the 

 whole, the best and least exhausting for Eoses; 

 though if they are so placed that little direct sun- 

 shine touches them till noon, the channs of dew- 

 diademed roses may be much longer enjoyed. 



Shade is almost as needful as sunshine. It pre- 

 serves the colour and prolongs the existence of the 

 blooms, and enables them to be better seen and more 

 delightfully enjoyed. The brilliancy of masses of 

 Eoses in the full glitter and glare of unclouded sunlight 

 is more overpowering than satisfying. Hence the true 

 lovers of Eoses are found lingering among them at 

 dewy mom and quiet eveningtide. It is at such 

 times only that the full beauty and fi-agrance of 

 Eoses can be revealed. Deep refreshing shade brings 

 with it witching times among the Eoses, whence the 

 many attempts, by the skilful choice of natural sites, 

 and by building walls and j)lanting screens, to pro- 

 duce or prolong the season of shade among them. 

 In all these artificial attempts to produce shade, 

 nothing must on any account be permitted to 

 approach too closely to or overhang the Eoses, so as 

 to infiinge upon o\xr last condition of a good site — 

 a fi'ee circulation of air. In addition to the pro- 

 \iding of shade for Eoses in the mass, and for the 

 purpose of the higher development of their beaut^', 

 and the more pleasm-able enjo^-ment of the same, 



