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153 Soda as a Manure. It has been oftentimes stated that Soda 
imparts a very beneficial effect as a stimulant to vegetation. We 
cannot refer to any specific authority for proof of the assertion, 
probability, however, is in its favour, and the experiment may 
be made with very little trouble and expense. If Soda be not 
generally advantageous it may be so under certain circumstances, 
therefore it is desirable tliat it should have a fair trial, the more 
especially as it is remarkably cheap, being worth at the maker’s 
works, but ten or twelve shillings per cwt. The method of 
using it is to dissolve one pound in fourteen gallons of water, 
and apply the solution to the plants as common water. 
154 Rosa Indica odorata. Culture. The Messrs. Rivers and 
Son, Nurserymen, of Sawbridgeworth, Herts, are directing their 
particular attention to Roses, and we doubt not, as well as 
advantageous to themselves, their exertions will prove very gra- 
tifying to Rose growers generally. IMr. T. Rivers, jun. has is- 
sued gratis, a classified catalogue of nearly .900 Roses, each 
one named, described, and priced. He has also published 
a further description with directions for their culture, entitled 
“The Rose Amateur’s Guide,” founded, as he says, on “The 
result of twenty years’ experience, gained by the culture of 
choice Roses on a much larger scale than any where in Europe.” 
As a specimen of the information which it contains we copy 
from it, (page 76) the following directions for cultivating the 
Rosa Indica odorata, commonly called the sweet-scented, or tea- 
scented China Rose. “ As these interesting Roses require more 
care in their culture than any yet described, I will endeavour to 
give the most explicit directions I am able, so as to ensure at 
least a chance of success. One most essential rule must be 
observed in all moist soils and situations; when grown on their 
own roots they must have a raised border in some warm and 
sheltered place. This may be made with flints or pieces of rock 
in the shape of a detached rock border, ora four-inch cemented 
brick wall, one foot or eighteen inches high, may be built on 
the southern front of a wall, thick hedge or wooden fence, at a 
distance so as to allow the border to be two feet w ide ; the earth 
of this border must be removed to eighteen inches in depth, nine 
inches filled up with pieces of bricks, tiles, stones, or lime rub- 
bish; on this place a layer of compost, half loam or garden 
mould, and half rotten manure well mixed, to which add some 
lOl AUCTABICJI. 
