WHEN the plants are received from the Nursery, they should, if the weather is not frosty, be un- 
packed 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-ft. 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 and currents. The south-east or 
south-west aspect is best, the beds being situated so as to receive the morning sun ; roses like a free cir- 
culation, 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 quan- 
tities 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. 
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 Rose Bushes 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 iS-inches deep, and large enough to contain half a wheelbarrrow- 
ful of a compost of two-thu*ds 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 mixtuie near the roots induces fresh fibre. 
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 were 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 manure laid on the beds in November and forked in the following Spring, 
is an excellent dressing ; cow and 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 
shortening — 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 spar- 
ingly pruned. Do not let established 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. 
A Few Hints 
on their Culture. 
For Carriage Arrangements and Discounts see third page of cover. 
