88 



PARSONS OX THE KOSE, 



nure, too generally thrown away, all contain some of the 

 best fertilizmg matter, and with proper care could be 

 made amply sufficient for the production of liis flowers 

 and vegetables. The decomposed turf alone would grow 

 roses admirably, although a little manure would be a use- 

 ful addition. 



SITUATION. 



The best situation for the Rose is an eastern or northern 

 exposure, rather than a southern ; the intensity of the heat 

 of our midsummer often alfects injuriously the expansion 

 of the flowers, their color, and fragrance. A useful de- 

 gree of shade can be obtained by planting amidst groups 

 of dwarf roses, pillars, trellises, obelisks, etc., on which 

 climbing roses can be trained, and whose shadow, chang- 

 ing with the sun, would protect the opening bloom and 

 answer the same end as a cool situation. While, however, 

 the Rose requires a cool, airy locality, it should by no 

 means be placed entirely in the shade ; a portion of the 

 sun's rays is always necessary to ensure a good bloom. It 

 is from this cause that the bloom of roses is much more 

 certain and perfect in France and this country than in 

 England. In the latter country, the sun is scarcely ever 

 sufficiently powerful to develop all the resources of a 

 plant. The summer of 1846 w^as unprecedenteclly hot 

 throughout England, and all the horticultural journals 

 united in pronouncing the bloom of roses that season un- 

 surpassed by the bloom of any previous year. For climb- 

 ing roses the situation should not be too exj)osed, or Avhere 

 they would be liable to encounter heavy winds, which 

 might break ofi* the young shoots and in other ways injure 

 the plant. Most of our American cities possess in the 

 X3ulture of roses a sfreat advantaQ:e over the laro-e towns 

 of England, in the use of anthracite instead of bituminous 

 coal ; for, according to Loudon, the Rose will not thrive 



