94 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES 



May and June, about an inch thick, in a circle 

 round the tree, from 12 to 18 inches in diameter. 

 This compost is not adapted for mixing with the 

 soil that is placed among the roots, but is for a 

 summer surface- dressing only ; and care must be 

 taken that it is not placed in a heap or ridge after 

 it has been viixed^for then fermentation is so violent 

 that the smell becomes intolerable! 



So powerful is this confection, that I have found 

 one application quite sufficient ; and this I apply, 

 when the Rosebuds are formed and swelling, towards 

 the end of May, or, in a late season, the beginning 

 of June. I wait for the indications of rain, that 

 the fertilising matter may be at once washed down 

 to the roots ; and it never fails to act as quinine 

 to the weakly, and as generous wine to the strong. 

 During the extraordinary drought of the summer 

 in 1868, I watched day after day — nay, week after 

 week — with a patience worthy of that deaf old 

 gentleman who listened for three months to catch 

 the ticking of a sun-dial, or of him who undertook 

 the tedious task of teaching a weather-cock to 

 crow ; and at last, feeling sure of my shower, 

 wheeled barrow after barrow with my own hands, 

 not seeming to have time to call for help, over the 

 little bridge, and spread it over the parched soil. 

 Soon the big rain came dancing to the earth, and 



