" O blessed nature, rus ! rus ! 

 Who does not sigh for the country thus, 



Absorb'd in a worldly torpor — 

 Who does not yearn for its meadow-sweet breath, 

 Untainted by care, and crime, and death. 

 And to stand sometimes upon grass or heath — 



That soul, spite of gold, is a pauper !"— Hood. 



y^^ O much has been written upon the subject of Floriculture in general by professionals and 

 ^gfgfe. amateurs, that the theme has become somewhat hackneyed, and the neophyte-, who turn to 

 4l^pr? the subject with awakening interest and enthusiasm, are apt to contemplate with awestruck 

 wonder and dismay the mass of miscellaneous literature appertaining thereto with which 

 they are mentally confronted ; quite naturally taking it for granted that in order to attain success 

 all these elaborate details as set forth must be apprehended and observed, else failure will neces- 

 sarily follow. This conclusion is quite erroneous : Roses may be cultivated with a gratifying degree 

 of success by any one who is sufficiently interested to give to the effort a little thought and attention, 

 without reference to the experience of others. We do not mean to assert that the knowledge thus 

 acquired is not helpful and valuable ; what is to be condemned is the apathetic spirit of dependence 

 which it tends to inculcate and foster. We often marvel at the skill displayed and success attained 

 by persons of only moderate abilities and resources ; their knowledge of methods seems to be largely 

 intuitive, and whatever aptitude they possess to have been acquired in the great kindergarten of 

 Nature by contact and by observation. We are apt to encumber ourselves entirely too much with 

 prolix details, without attempting to exercise the mind upon the realities of Nature, thereby render- 

 ing it alert, perceptive and receptive with reference to the objectivity of its environment. It should 

 always be borne in mind that our cultivated plants are adaptations to certain natural laws and con- 

 ditions of growth to which they necessarily respond. Temperature, light, soil and moisture form a 

 summary of these elementary conditions, which, as they combine in their proper and natural rela- 

 tionship, promote activity and perfection of growth, and measure the degree of success to be attained. 

 These are the cardinal points of the compass ; the known quantities given to find the unknown ; the 

 first principles of the art to be considered under whatever circumstances the cultivation of plants is 

 attempted. 



Outdoor 



Cultivation 

 of looses... 



Select, if possible, the most shel- 

 tered sunny location for plant- 

 ing, avoiding the close proximity 

 of large trees whose dense foliage 

 and divergent roots monopolize 

 the immediate surroundings to the exclusion of 

 almost everything else ; the presence of young 

 trees and dwarf shrubberv will not be hurtful. 



of Soil. 



Preparation Roses may be grown to perfec- 

 tion in the ordinary garden soil. 

 In cases where the natural sur- 

 face earth has been removed by 

 grading, or has been covered by a clayey or sandy 

 subsoil thrown from the excavation made for the 

 cellar, it will be necessary to restore at least a part 

 of the original fertility by substituting a quantity 

 of loam, which may readily be obtained under the 

 sod by the roadside or from the fields ; in the 

 absence of this, street dirt or sweepings will 

 answer the purpose. To each wheelbarrow load 

 of loam add about one-third its bulk of well- 

 rotted stable manure, also some sand, if there is a 

 lack of this constituent ; select the spot where you 

 wish to locate the bed, spread the new soil and 

 manure evenly upon it and spade altogether to the 



depth of twelve inches or more, thoroughly mix- 

 ing and mellowing. If street dirt or sweepings 

 are used the composition may be sufficiently rich 

 in fertilizing matter. 



* * 



pertilizerS. I Fine, well-decomposed stable 



■ ' manure is the best for general 



purposes, and the results obtained from its use 

 will be highly satisfactory. If this cannot con- 

 veniently be obtained, fine ground bone or other 

 commercial fertilizers may be employed, but re- 

 quire judgment in their application; if used too 

 freely they are likely to injure the plants. The 

 manure may be applied late in the Fall, Spring or 

 Midsummer ; if in the Fall, as a surface dressing, 

 it will serve as a partial protection over Winter : 

 if in the Spring and Summer, it will be beneficial 



as a mulch. 



* * 



* 



Planting.... I After the ground has been thor- 



' oughly prepared, manured and 



mellowed, with the hands make holes in the soil 

 about twelve inches apart ; set the plant a little 

 deeper than formerly, arrange the roots in their 

 natural positions, cover with fine earth, pressing 

 it firmly down upon them and in around the stem. 

 After planting, water freely, and if the weather is 



(3) 



