THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
107 
ON THE CULTURE OF ROSES. 
BY A LOVER OF ROSES. 
Roses may be planted either in autumn or spring ; but many persons 
prefer the latter. The advocates of spring planting say, that it is almost 
impossible to take up roses without injuring their roots ; and, if planted 
with broken roots in autumn, when the plant is in a languid state, the 
wounded part is more likely to rot than heal: whereas in spring, when 
the sap is in motion, the vigorous state of the plant enables it to heal the 
wound immediately. However, though opinions may differ on this 
subject, there can be no doubt but that spring is the season for planting 
all the China and other delicate roses ; and that the first week in April 
is the most suitable time. 
The first point in forming a rose garden is to select a suitable situation, 
fully open to the sun and air; as, though some few kinds of roses may be 
planted as under growth under the drip of trees, the greater part must have 
abundance of light and air. The situation for the rosery having been 
chosen, care should be taken that the ground be well drained ; and where 
the expense is not objected to, a bed may be excavated two feet deep, and 
a layer of brickbats, stones and rubbish, six inches deep, laid at the 
bottom. The bed should then be filled up with a compost of nearly equal 
parts of turfy loam, or loam from old pasture land, and vegetable mould, 
or very rotten manure, mixed with about the eighth part of the whole of 
sand. When climbing roses are planted for forming pyramids or pillars, 
a pit about eighteen inches in diameter, or rather more, should be prepared 
in this manner for each rose ; and a similar plan should be adopted in 
every situation where any particular rose is wanted to grow with great 
luxuriance. 
The bed or pit having been prepared, and raised a little above the 
general level of the garden to allow for the new ground settling, the roses 
should be taken up ; and their roots having been carefully examined, and 
all the bruised parts cut off, they should be planted about two feet apart, 
if of the delicate growing kinds ; or three feet apart, if of those kinds which 
are very strong and robust. Roses should always be planted carefully, 
with their roots well spread out; and they should be kept out of the 
ground as short a time as possible. They should be frequently watered 
for some time after planting; and a little fresh stable manure should be 
laid on the surface of the ground over the roots. 
The hybrid China roses are the best for forming pyramids and pillars, 
as they make shoots generally from six to ten feet long every season, and 
