52 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



and at the end of three days it is said that the plants 

 will be restored to their original condition. 



The very first opportunity when the soil is com- 

 paratively dry should be chosen for the planting, and 

 one of the most important points to remember is that 

 the roots should never be allowed to become dry ; they 

 should be kept under matting or damp leaves or soil 

 till actually wanted, and exposed to the air as little as 

 possible. Some recommend the dipping the roots in a 

 pail of thick puddle composed of clay, cocoanut fibre 

 dust, and water, as a protection from drying air ; but I 

 do not think this is necessary or advisable where there 

 are small fibrous roots, as these get matted together and 

 cannot be separated without some danger of injury. In 

 spring planting, if the sun be bright, it is safest to carry 

 the Roses in a pail of water from the place where they 

 have been laid in during the winter to the bed where 

 they are to be planted. 



Another equally important point is that the Roses 

 should not be planted too deeply. I consider four inches 

 sufficient for " dwarfs " ; standards may be planted an 

 inch or so deeper, and a little further apart from each 

 other. Comparatively shallow planting, especially if 

 the Roses are going to be cultivated and not neglected, 

 is a great secret of success. A good piece of advice is 

 to mark the line of soil upon the plant, and be careful 

 not to cover it deeper than it was before ; and a bad one 

 is to plant deeper in light soil to avoid the drought. 

 The principle of shallow planting and dependence on 

 horizontal surface roots is well understood by gardeners 

 in the case of fruit-trees ; they will take much pains to 

 cut the tap-roots, and will even " lift " the roots of their 

 vines, peach, and other trees if they prove unfruitful, 

 lay them in again nearer the surface, and encourage 



