THE ROUTINE OF WORK 



29 



manure around the base of the plant, forming 

 a cone about ten inches high. All shoots of 

 tender climbers relied upon for next year's 

 bearing are carefully bent down and buried, 

 with or without a salt-hay protection over the 

 earth, according to the degree of hardiness. 

 All beds except those of hardy roses are then 

 covered after the first hard frost with a coating 

 of dried leaves, at least twenty inches in thick- 

 ness, held in place by wisps of salt hay or 

 straw, the holding-down material not to be 

 too heavy. The covering should be com- 

 pleted usually by Thanksgiving Day, but of 

 course the final application of leaves will 

 depend upon the actual date of the first good 

 frost. Do not cover too soon, nor with 

 leaves which are wet and soggy or half 

 rotted. In the spring remove the covering 

 gradually, none of it as a rule before April 

 1st, and some should remain until at least 

 April 20th, to guard against late frosts. 

 What remains of the manure may be forked 

 in, being careful, however, not to get the rose 

 stems buried beyond the proper depth. 



In still colder regions it becomes necessary 

 to protect even the Hybrid Perpetuals. When 

 this is necessary there is no real pleasure to 



