Read Before Unpacking FIRST AID Should the moss around the roots of the Roses in this package have become dry and hard in transit, soak same in lukewarm water for half an hour, so that the moss may be removed without breaking the roots of the Roses. It will help the Rose roots to give them this soaking, whether they are dry or not. Do this soaking in a. room or cellar away from the sun and wind. If, when unpacked, you find the leaves, have turned yellow, remove them; this has not injured the plant. TIME TO PLANT The proper time to plant Own Root Pot Grown Roses in all localities is after danger of hard frost or freezing is past, and should weather conditions be unfavorable for planting in the open ground when Roses are received, they may be temporarily planted in pots, boxes or baskets and grown indoors by placing in a light window and watering enough to keep soil moist, but not soggy. They should be transplanted to the open ground as soon as weather will permit. A splendid rule about planting Roses is when general gardening is done in your immediate locality. LOCATION OF ROSE BEDS Rose beds should be located where plants get full sunshine, and never near large trees or shrubs, as these will take all the substance and moisture in the soil from the unestablished plants and cause a struggle for existence. SOIL Roses succeed in any good garden soil, and will even grow in pure yeUow clay if the instructions here given are followed out. We always prefer a clayey loam with a pure clay subsoil, suh as we have here in the fertile valley of the great Miami in. Ohio; but if you do not have such soil, do not be discouraged about your having; Roses, but follow your guide and fear not results. PREPARATION OF SOIL If soil is poor, cover the bed to a depth of four inches with old, well rotted barnyard manure; never use fresh manure, as it will destroy the roots of the plants. Then dig to a depth of eighteen inches and work the soil until it becomes thoroughly well pulverized. SETTING PLANTS Make holes large enough to allow roots to spread out well and deep enough to let crown of roots set about one and one half inches below top of soil. When plant is set in, spread the roots out and fill in about half the depth with powdered soil, press this down firmly around the roots this is important and if very dry, water well before filling in with remainder of soil. Remember, firming of soil must be done before watering, and not afterwards. MULCHING We come now to the most important part of Rose culture and something that in the past has been entirely neglected. Any one may observe that Nature abhors bare ground. Where growing conditions obtain, Mother Nature always, either with grass or weed or shrub or trees, covers up the ground. Man reverses this by removing all these coverings and setting out some small flower or vegetable plants, and expects them to do their best on this bare ground. Take a piece of carpet or board or almost anything that will shade the ground, and you have, in part at least, made up for Natures coverings. We have found the very best and the most practical to be fresh manure from the horse stable. While you must not put fresh manure in the ground, you can put it on top of your beds. So, after planting your Roses, at once cover the beds to a depth of three inches with this manure, putting it right up (OVER)