14 
M. H. WALSH, WOODS HOLE, MASS. 
Hedge of Lady Gay, Minnehaha, Debutante, Hiawatha, Delight, Sweetheart, Coquina, Paradise and Snowdrift 
PRACTICAL POINTS FOR ROSE-GROWERS 
The professional gardener needs no directions. 
This is intended to assist those who wish to grow 
Roses, but not having sufficient practical knowledge 
to insure themselves against making mistakes in 
the culture they give their plants. 
The best position for Roses is a southeast to 
southwest exposure. Roses require sunshine. They 
will not thrive in the shade, neither will they thrive 
where the roots of trees come in contact with the 
Rose-bed and rob the soil of plant-food. Roses 
like to be sheltered from the north and northwest 
winds. A shelter may be afforded by planting screens 
of Rambler Roses; these are effective and orna¬ 
mental; or the Rose-bed may be made in the shelter 
of buildings, or of evergreens you may have. 
The Soil. Roses will grow in any ordinary 
garden soil that is well enriched with stable manure. 
Cow-manure is preferable where the soil is not too 
heavy. If of a clay composition, horse-manure should 
be used. Roses will not thrive in sand, neither will 
they grow in ground where water has not ready 
drainage. Be sure you have this. If the place 
selected is sandy, remove this soil to the depth of a 
couple of feet, and replace with good, turfy loam 
from some old pasture or the woods. Add one-fourth 
the bulk of well-decomposed manure, and thoroughly 
mix the manure with the soil. A layer of grass or 
leaves on the bottom is beneficial, as it provides 
drainage. Should your soil be clay, it is better to dig 
this out 2 feet deep and fill in with clay, loam, and 
a little manure, on top of half a foot of broken bricks 
or stones. 
Hybrid Perpetual Roses require a stronger or 
heavier soil for their successful growth than Hybrid 
Teas; by a light soil is meant soil of a sandy texture 
but well and liberally enriched with manure and 
vegetable matter, or humus. Evaporation will be 
greater in light soil than in heavier soil, hence you 
must be careful to water plants growing in it. 
Rambler Roses will grow in any ordinary soil well 
enriched with manure. If possible, dig out the bed to 
a depth of 2 feet and thoroughly incorporate the 
manure in the soil. 
Most failures of Roses can be traced to lack of 
nourishment in the soil, and to lack of tilth and 
humus. Put a Rose in a little hole and you may 
expect it to die; but plant it with care in properly 
prepared soil, and it will thrive and give satis¬ 
faction and pleasure. To sum up the needs: Have 
plenty of plant-food in the shape of manure and 
fertilizer in the bed, see that the soil is light and loose 
and full of humus and be particular to get good 
drainage. If you do this you cannot fail to succeed 
in a way that will surprise and gratify you. 
