34 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



In many cases, however, the would-be grower of 

 Roses has no choice of a situation, but has to make the 

 best of the ground at his disposal ; and as I have to 

 grow my own Roses in just such a situation as I have 

 been describing as the worst of all — viz. at the bottom 

 of a valley, near a river, hardly above the level of the 

 water-meadows, only thirty feet above sea-level, and more- 

 over surrounded by large trees — I can fully sympathise 

 with any one in such a position. The disadvantages of 

 low ground can only be surmounted by choosing the 

 very highest you have — a little rise will tell — and by 

 much care in protecting the Teas through the winter 

 (see Chap. IV.). As for the big trees, if they must 

 not be cut down, their shade and their robbing power 

 must be utterly avoided, or success will be impossible. 

 We may generally calculate that the roots will reach 

 to a distance equal to the height of the tree, though 

 some are worse robbers than others, and a specially 

 wide berth should be given to Elms. As to the cutting 

 through the tree-roots before they reach the beds, the 

 labour will generally be found inadequate to the result 

 a really deep trench, kept open, might answer in some 

 cases, but in many it would be a serious nuisance. I 

 have tried cutting the roots and putting tar and other 

 things that I thought would stop them into the trench 

 before filling it up, but without success. 



The general resort of the baffled Rosarian is to take in 

 a piece from a neighbouring field, and this is no doubt 

 the best course to pursue ; for, if the soil be good and 

 the field an old pasture without any trees too near, it 

 will be far better to do this at once, even at some extra 

 cost, than to try to grow Roses to perfection in a garden 

 without sufficient elbow-room from large trees and 

 shrubs. 



