Practical Directions for Amateur 7{pse Qrolvers 
In response to numerous inquiries 
from my patrons interested in Rose¬ 
growing, the following cultural direc¬ 
tions will be of practical value to ama¬ 
teurs who may have but limited knowl¬ 
edge as to the cultivation of hardy 
garden Roses. The professional gar¬ 
dener needs no directions, and this is 
intended to assist those wishing to grow 
Roses but not having sufficient practical 
knowledge to cultivate them successfully. 
One of the first essentials is loca¬ 
tion. The best position for Roses is a 
southeast to southwest exposure. Roses 
require sunshine. They should be kept 
from the shade and roots of trees. 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 the nourishment which is in¬ 
tended for the Rose plants. Roses like 
to be sheltered from the north and north¬ 
west winds. A shelter may be afforded 
by planting screens of rambler Roses ; these are effective and ornamental, and also answer the purpose of a wind-break. 
The Soil. Roses will grow in ordinary garden soil well enriched with decomposed stable manure, cow manure being 
preferable where the soil is not too heavy or of clay composition. If of the latter composition, then horse manure should be 
used. Roses will not thrive in sand, neither will they grow in ground which is stagnant. 
The bed should have good drainage ; this is important. If the place selected for growing Roses is sand, this should be 
removed to the depth of at least two feet, replacing the same with good turfy loam from some old pasture, or with soil which 
has not been exhausted by over-crop¬ 
ping, adding one-fourth the quantity 
of well decomposed manure thoroughly 
incorporating the manure with the soil 
from bottom to top. A layer of turf 
on the bottom is beneficial, as it serves 
as drainage. 
Should the soil, on the other hand, 
prove to be clay, where Roses are to 
grow, this should be removed to the 
depth of 2 feet, and one-half loam and 
one-half of the clay soil, together with 
one-fourth of decomposed manure, 
should be thoroughly mixed. Before 
filling in the bed with this compost, 
4 or 5 inches of broken bricks or small 
cobblestones should be used for drain¬ 
age. Clay soil is retentive and holds an 
excess of moisture for Roses to thrive 
without drainage. 
Hybrid perpetual Roses require a 
stronger or heavier soil for their suc¬ 
cessful growth than hybrid teas. Hy¬ 
brid teas require a lighter soil; by that 
