324 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



though it may be continued in February. In light 

 frosts, strong liquid manure may be put on the Eose 

 beds, when it will sink in rapidly and in quantity. After 

 or during high winds, the Teas may be inspected to see 

 that the protective materials are secure, and standards 

 should be looked to, as they may have broken away from 

 their stakes. Standard stocks may still be got at any 

 time when the weather is open. Even in severe frost 

 work may be found in digging trenches to discover and 

 cut off the invading roots of trees and shrubs Roses 

 being forced under glass will now be starting and 

 requiring much care, and winter grafting will be in full 

 swing. 



Febr uary. — If farmyard manure is used in the soil, now 

 is the time to dig or fork it in, but be sure it is thoroughly 

 decomposed, or in my opinion it will do more harm than 

 good. Still, it supplies the vegetable matter of humus, 

 and if the soil in the beds be raw and light-coloured, 

 such an addition is desirable if not necessary, but the 

 upper portion of the beds should originally have been 

 supplied with humus, in old garden mould or the like. 

 If no digging is practised, the soil should be well loosened 

 by the hoe, as some weeds will probably have grown 

 since October. The artificial manure should then be 

 applied, choosing a still day when it can be distributed 

 evenly. If the weather be favourable at the end of the 

 month any arrears of planting may be finished, and 

 stocks of all sorts may still be set out ; but Roses planted 

 now may require watering in March and April, if the 

 weather be dry, till they have got a hold. Cuttings 

 should be examined, and those that have been lifted by 

 the frost should be set firm again, either by pushing 

 them down or consolidating the soil around them. 

 Roses on sunny walls may be pruned after the middle 



