XIV 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



325 



of the month, and towards the close we may proceed 

 with the summer and hardy garden sorts. Marechal 

 Niel and other climbing Roses indoors will be starting, 

 and they and all forced Roses should be watched for 

 mildew and insects, and will require much care in the 

 regulation of air and moisture. 



March. — This is the month for pruning all outdoor 

 Roses except Teas, but the second week will generally be 

 early enough for H.P.s in northern and midland dis- 

 tricts. The Teas should not be pruned yet, but the 

 winter protections should be most carefully removed 

 towards the end of the month. Do not be persuaded to 

 take away the shelter earlier, as the weather is by no 

 means safe yet. It is an error to suppose that the 

 winter protection forces them into precocious growth, for 

 it has just the opposite effect. The same blanket that 

 keeps a man warm will also keep a block of ice cold. 

 It is true, however, that such shoots as are made under 

 the protection grow longer than they would outside 

 simply because they are not stopped by frost, but 

 these premature growths would have to come off in 

 any case. Planting may still be done, with care, but 

 watering will probably be required to follow it. The 

 roots of all plants moved at this time, whether stocks or 

 Roses, should be kept in water as long as they are out of 

 the ground. All budded stocks should now be staked, 

 and the buds carefully examined, for the grub is some- 

 times at work before March is out. If it be desired to 

 retard the blooming of Teas, a thick heavy mulch of 

 long wet manure laid on now while the ground is still 

 very cold will keep the roots cool and to a certain extent 

 have the required effect. Be most careful of the 

 ventilation of Marechal Niel under glass, and attack 

 mildew and aphides when they first appear. With the 



