242 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



to keep them alive. Spring-struck plants are best; but the old 

 plants to work from should be bought some time during the 

 autumn, and the young plants rooted early enough to get strong 

 and hardy before bedding-out time. Much may be said about the 

 many new geraniums which have lately been brought forward, but I 

 will "leave that part of the subject in more able hands ; for such hands 

 are not far oft' from our readers, as I believe our Editor knows more 

 about them than any other person living. I am afraid I have ex- 

 tended this paper already to too great a length, but I will add, that 

 there are hundreds of hardy plants admirably adapted for bedding 

 that we never think of employing for that purpose. 



PEEPAPJNG ROSES TO BLOOM AT CHEISTMAS. 



BY HENET HOWLETT. 



T is not enough for this luxurious generation in which 

 we live to enjoy the gifts of Providence and the beauties 

 of creation in their appointed course ; but man, " who 

 seeks out many inventions," must needs set Nature's 

 rules at defiance, and reverse her laws, in order that he 

 lnay^force her to yield up her treasures at his bidding ; and if we possess 

 the skill, the leisure, and the means, surely it can be no vain or 

 frivolous application of either to devote them to so harmless and 

 pleasant an end as the production of a glowing bank of roses, at a 

 season when 



The trees, all spectral and still and white, 

 Stand up like ghosts in the failing light, 

 And fade and faint with the blinded day. 



Yet if any of my readers for the first time in their lives determine 

 that this very next winter they will treat the gimtle " partner of 

 their hopes and cares" with a grand display of roses m the drawing- 

 room, let me just remind them that the\ must make up their minds 

 to be very amiable and attentive to Dame Nature, from this day 

 forward, as she will require no ordinary petting and coaxing to bring 

 her into the desired frame of mind for yielding her treasures gra- 

 ciously. In other words, they must set about their preparations in 

 earnest, and at once, and base them on proper principles. Then let 

 us consider what essentials are required in this operation of producing 

 a bank of roses from Christmas onward. 



It is well known to practical gardeners that roses, or other trees 

 whose natural time of flowering is suumier, must, when required to 

 yield their produce at the opposite sea>on, undergo a course of train- 

 ing calculated to fit them for the chaui^e. And first, they must be 

 old enough and strong enough to produce abundance of Howers. It 

 would be useless wasting time and incurring expense upon plants 

 that had not stamina to furnish the maierial for flowers, and it 

 would be folly to attempt forcing at so early a period, unless suitable 



