THE ROSE 



Some varieties do well in a soil of clay con- 

 taining considerable gravel. Such a soil provides 

 for the roots the firmness of which I have spoken, 

 while the gravel insures perfect drainage, — a 

 matter of great importance in Rose-culture. 

 Success cannot be expected in a soil unduly re- 

 tentive of moisture. Very heavy soils can be 

 lightened by the addition of coarse, sharp sand, 

 old mortar, and cinders. If the location chosen 

 does not furnish perfect drainage, naturally, 

 artificial drainage must be resorted to. Make an 

 excavation at least a foot and a half in depth, 

 and fill in, at the bottom, with bits of broken 

 brick, crockery, coarse gravel, fine stone — any- 

 thing that will not readily decay — and thus secure 

 a stratum of porous material through which the 

 superfluous moisture in the soil will readily drain 

 away. This is an item in Rose-culture that one 

 cannot afford to ignore, if he desires fine Roses. 



A rich soil must be provided for the plants in 

 order to secure good results. This, also, is a 

 matter of the greatest importance. The ideal 

 fertilizer is old, well-rotted cow-manure — so old 

 that it is black, and so rotten that it will crumble 

 at the touch of the hoe. On no account should 

 fresh manure be used. If old manure cannot be 

 obtained, substitute finely-ground bonemeal, in 

 the proportion of a pound to as much soil as 



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