^ trench drawn back into the trench. 

 ^ Then cultivate and mulch the bed, and 



the moisture will be conserved, even in a 

 drouth for a week or ten days. 



MULCHING 



If after the rose bed is thoroughly soaked it 

 is mulched the moisture will not only be preserved 

 for an extended period, but the ground will also 

 be prevented from cracking, and even during a 

 drouth a thorough soaking will be sufficient to 

 last for a week, providing the mulch is kept 

 stirred. The pulverized sheep fertilizer, of which 

 I have spoken, may be used with the greatest 

 freedom. An inch dressing of it on our rose beds 

 (lightly incorporated with the soil), makes the 

 best possible mulch. I strongly advise against 

 a mulch of stable manure, and the use of liquid 

 stable manure (I know that this is at variance 

 with the views of several authors of books on 

 rose growing.) To express it mildly, liquid stable 

 manure is a fly and mosquito breeder and acts 

 as a magnet for many other objectionable pests. 

 Aside from that, I put it very gently when I say 

 it is a "difficult" fertilizer to use. Keep the sur- 

 face of the beds stirred and powdered and you 



Mil 



17 



