36 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



a neighbourhood where the English oaks and elms 

 grow large and the hedges are vigorous and strong,, with 

 long clean healthy shoots — such signs as these will be 

 better guides to the seeker for a Rose soil than geo- 

 logical maps, which often give no indication as to the 

 nature of the surface. 



The principal soils likely to be found are clay, loam, 

 gravel, chalk, and sand. 



Clay. — The general idea is that clay land is most 

 suitable for Roses ; but there is a very great difference 

 in the fertility of clays, from the poor blue shale clay 

 of the Weald of Sussex to the rich yellow unctuous 

 butter that feeds fat the Roses of Colchester. In this 

 matter there can be no better guide, as I have said, 

 than the local knowledge which has been gained by 

 generations of experience of results, and the obvious 

 test of value is the rent or price demanded and paid. 



But clay land has very much deteriorated in value for 

 agricultural purposes of late years, more than any other, 

 and it is not now considered, as it used to be, the best 

 of all soils for Rose-growing ; and it must be remembered 

 that even the best of it is very difficult and troublesome 

 to work: it cannot be meddled with at all in wet 

 weather, and unless the surface is dry harm may be 

 done by even treading on it. Planting in such a case 

 is a serious trouble to the conscientious Rosarian, who is 

 told to apply the most powdery soil to the roots of his 

 Roses and to see that it all settles evenly and closely 

 between the layers of fibres, if he has nothing at hand 

 but huge sticky unbreakable clods. The precious cul- 

 tivation of the hoe, keeping the surface powdery and 

 preventing evaporation by cracks in dry weather, is a 

 serious and difficult task. Even if the land is well 

 drained to start with, which is absolutely necessary, the 



