THE ROSE 



bage, and the Mosses, anywhere south of New 

 York. North of that latitude I would not advise 

 depending on so slight a protection. Earth-cov- 

 ering is preferable for the northern section of the 

 United States. 



It is no easy matter to get sturdy Rose-bushes 

 ready for winter. Their canes are stiff and brit- 

 tle. Their thorns are formidable. One person, 

 working alone, cannot do the entire work to ad- 

 vantage. It needs one to bend the bushes down 

 and hold them in that position while the other 

 applies the covering. In bending the bush, great 

 care must be taken to prevent its being broken, 

 or cracked, close to the ground. Provide your- 

 self with gloves of substantial leather or thick 

 canvas before you tackle them. Then take hold 

 of the cane close to the ground, with the left hand, 

 holding it firmly, grasp the upper part of it with 

 the right hand, and proceed gently and cautiously 

 with the work until you have it flat on the ground. 

 If your left-hand grasp is a firm one, you can feel 

 the bush yielding by degrees, and this is what 

 you should be governed by. On no account 

 work so rapidly that you do not feel the re- 

 sistance of the branch giving way in a man- 

 ner that assures you that it is adjusting itself 

 safely to the force that is being applied to it. 



137 



