feu) ffints on the Culture of Tioses. 
HEN the Plants are received from the Nursery, they should, if the weather 
is not frosty, be unpacked at once and the roots and tops wetted ; if the 
ground is ready, plant at once, taking only a few at a time out of the shelter, so that 
the whole lot may not be exposed for any length of time to cold drying winds. 
SITUATION.— A place apart from other flowers should be assigned to Roses if possible. Oblong beds not 
over 4 feet wide are the best, as the flowers may be cut and examined without treading on the beds. The situation 
should be an open one, though not exposed to high winds or currents. A south-east or south-west aspect is best, 
the beds being situated so as to receive the morning sun ; roses like a free circulation, but are injured by cold 
draughts ; on the other hand, closeness is apt to generate mildew. 
SOIL.— That which they especially delight in is a rich fibrous loam that feels greasy when pressed between the 
fingers ; where this is not to be had the soil should be improved — if light, by the addition of loam or even clay 
well worked in ; where heavy, good drainage and the addition of charcoal in small quantities will help it, but in 
such places drainage is most important. The ground should be deeply trenched, well rotted animal manure being 
plentifully added ; if the soil be old garden soil, add good fresh loam, rich and yellow ; if heavy clay, some burned 
earth, road sand, or leaf-mould should be added. For Briars the loam if somewhat adhesive in quality will be all 
the better. n 
PLANTING. — Choose a fine day for the operation ; rather than plant when the ground is very wet lay the 
plants in for a day or two and wait. Dwarf or Bush Roses should be planted with the collar of the bud, or point 
of union with the stock, at least two inches below the surface of the soil. Standard Roses should not be planted 
too deep — a few inches depth of soil above the roots is sufficient ; but firmly stake each tree to prevent the wind 
rocking it, this last operation is essential to success. When planted amongst other subjects in the borders, a hole 
should be made about 18 inches deep, and large enough to contain half a wheelbarrowfull of a compost of two- 
thirds strong turfy loam (if it can be procured from an old pasture it is preferable) and one-third well decomposed 
animal manure, in the midst of this the tree should be planted and trodden in firmly ; a little sandy mixture near 
the roots induces fresh fibre. 
T-, WATERING.— Should dry weather follow planting let the trees have a good soaking of water, and syringe 
the tops ; especially is this necessary with those planted in spring. Large numbers which die every year from the 
effects of drying winds would be saved if care was taken in watering and syringing as here recommended. When 
coming into bloom, if weather is dry, give a good soaking once or twice a week, and at this time liquid manure 
may be used with advantage. 
MANURING. — Roses are gross feeders, and will take almost any amount of manure. A layer six inches 
deep of half decayed hot-bed, laid on the beds in November and forked in the following Spring is an excellent 
dressing ; cow or pig manure when available is also good. 
PRUNING.— This should not be done at the time of planting. If the trees are planted in the Autumn, 
March is the best month ; if Spring planted, April will be sufficiently early ; the latter month is also the best for 
pruning the Tea-scented and Noisette kinds. The strength of the shoot must determine the extent of the shorten- 
ing— if vigorous, leave it much longer than that which is weak ; as a rule the stronger kinds should be left 12 to 
18 inches long with 5 to 6 eyes, the weaker growing 6 inches with 2 to 4 eyes ; these remarks apply mostly to 
Hybrid Perpetuals. Tea-scented and Noisette Roses should only have the weak growth thinned out and the 
strong shoots topped. The Summer varieties of Moss Roses should be only sparingly pruned. Do not let estab- 
lished plants of any kind of Rose become crowded with branches, but carefully thin out all small and unripened 
wood. In all cases prune to a bud pointing outwards. 
For Carriage Arrangements, see page 58. 
