68 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
roots. The plant is then tied to a stick, and the trench, a sort of Celery 
trench, is filled up alternately with earth and decayed manure (sometimes 
boxes are used), and each layer is trodden hard against the stock, from which 
all apparent eyes have been cut. I rarely have any trouble with them after¬ 
wards. Now and then the stock of a fresh-planted Rose will throw up a 
“ pirate,” hardly ever from the roots. These pirates are insidious fellows, but 
any man accustomed to Roses will see them in a moment. The leaves are 
smaller than Rose leaves generally are, and of a dense green, and the shoot is 
usually reddish at the base. 
Having had so many Roses on this stock for so many years, I can hardly 
think that I could have remained so long under a delusion. I find round here 
that the Briar Roses are at a discount. My brother has given them up. His 
land is sandy. I have bought 150 Manetti Roses for him. Last year I bought 
upwards of one hundred Manetti Roses for Mr. Sturt, at Critchell. They gave 
great satisfaction. Mr. Adolphus Kent, when staying here, saw them in bloom; 
and praised them. This year I was asked to buy one hundred more. I saw 
them a few days ago, and both lots looked well. The land is fine deep loam. 
Mr. Beck, the new gardener, recommended by Mr. Veitch, has nicely protected 
their roots with straw, which is an excellent “ frigi domo.” I may say, in 
passing, that Mr. Beck is making great improvements. 
I will now advert to “ A. D’s.” article. In that article he gives you two 
very good reasons why his Roses failed—excessive drought, and mis-pruning. 
With regard to drought; it is impossible to grow Roses continuously” 
through a season (six months), on their own roots, or on any stock, without an 
adequate quantity of manure, and a most abundant supply of water. It cannot 
be too hot for Roses, provided these two are adequately supplied. It is a 
forcing-house out of doors, with the benefit of air. So far from Manetti 
Roses not liking heat, I plant my pot Roses on banks like those on which 
hedges are planted, but I mulch deeply with dung, covered with burnt field 
ashes (retainers of moisture), and pour abundance of water into the centre of 
the bank. These pot plants have been removed to my other garden, to await 
removal next autumn ; and the banks are levelled for culinary vegetables. They 
are noble trees, 5 and 6 feet high, and can be seen any day—such as Due de 
Cazes, Prince Camille de Rohan, Maurice Bernardin, and Due de Rohan, four 
noble Roses ; abundant, and never-ceasing bloomers. I bought them of Mr. 
W. Paul some years ago. He would be a convert, if he were to see them. 
With regard to pruning Manetti Roses, “A. D.” is wrong again. Never 
prune any Rose, on any stock, at the time of planting. Till the eves swell, 
you cannot tell the best place to put the knife. Never at any time cut Manetti 
Roses hard, unless the wood is spoiled. If it is succulent, wait till the eyes 
swell, and cut to a good eye. Briar Roses will not bloom from succulent wood ; 
but Manetti Roses will bloom abundantly from pithy wood. Briar Roses fail 
much, especially fresh-planted ones, from not being cut hard enough ; Manetti 
Roses sometimes fail from being cut too hard when fresh planted. Had 
“A. D.” let the succulent wood alone, in due time it would have become hard. 
If the colour of the skin is yellowish after the Bose is established, I should cut 
it away in due time. That yellow skin is the effect of injury to the lungs of 
the plant; it is a sort of jaundice. From first to last, treat them as though 
they were established Hybrid Chinas. 
I am afraid “ A. D.” will be disheartened, for he is wrong again! He talks 
of suitability of soil. The Manetti stock is suitable to all soils—clay, sand, 
chalk, gravel—yes, gravel, if you put in plenty of manure. It will grow also 
in swampy ground. I have just sent to my new residence twelve plants of 
Reine d’Angleterre, about 6 feet high, whose roots in winter are in the water. 
