48 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



not be planted in the same beds with the H.P.s and 

 Teas. 



But I am getting on too fast. We have to make up 

 our beds after marking them out in the grass, and to 

 do this properly everything will depend upon the 

 nature of the soil and subsoil, instructions for dealing 

 with which have been given in the last chapter. 

 Whatever the soil may be, it should be moved at least 

 two feet in depth ; and, unless the soil under that should 

 prove thoroughly porous, affording good natural drainage, 

 the beds must be properly pipe-drained by a competent 

 and trustworthy man. That is the first thing ; without 

 good drainage, natural or artificial, no success can be 

 achieved. In any soil there should be perfect drainage, 

 as cultivation depends upon it in many ways. All really 

 worthless soil, chalk, gravel, or sand should be taken 

 away, but long before this should have been the hunt 

 among neighbouring farmers and landowners for good 

 Rose material to take its place. When found and pur- 

 chased, this good loam — the top spit of an old pasture 

 if possible — or even actual clay, should be carted to the 

 spot while the ground is yet hard in September, for 

 the Roses are to be planted early in November, and the 

 soil will do well to rest and consolidate a while before 

 planting. 



Let the beds be dug out, as advised, to the depth of 

 two clear spades at least ; and let it be understood that 

 the material is to be made up in two portions or layers, 

 whereof the lower is to be the larger. If among 

 grass, reserve the turf to be chopped up and mixed 

 into the upper portion. Next lay on one side all 

 soil in the top spadefuls that seems fairly fertile, 

 however light and dry ; it will be useful for a thin 

 layer in immediate contact with the roots, for mixing 



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