88 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



THE ROSE IN POTS. 



The following remarks on the cultivation of the Rose in pots may 

 not be considered entirely out of place at the present time, the 

 object in view being to direct attention to the capabilities of the Rose 

 as a pot plant 'for early forcing. Grand as is the royal Rose when in 

 the full glow of her midsummer glory she dazzles the eye with her 

 brilliant colours and loads the air with her grateful perfume, she 

 possesses a beauty more sweet and delicate when forced in early 

 spring : how fresh the foliage, how sweet the bloom, how we watch 

 the first buds unfold, and how our lady employers hail their appear- 

 ance ! Their colour, form, and fragrance, all go to make them fast and 

 first favourites with the ladies. The cultivation of the Rose in pots, 

 although greatly improved, as seen at our spring exhibitions of last 

 year, is still far from what it is capable of attaining to. That it 

 blooms at all under the treatment it too often receives is a matter of 

 wonder ; for how often during the summer are they to be found in 

 any and all situations save a suitable one ? sometimes burned up in 

 the sun and overrun with insects, or, worse still, stowed away into 

 some corner as if to avoid both sun and air, until they may be 

 wanted again to do duty in the forcing-house — at least such of them 

 as may be hkely to reward the forcing process with a few blooms — 

 the vacancies in their ranks by death in consequence of such treat- 

 ment being made up from the open borders, sometimes from the 

 nurserymen. In the course of our own experience with pot Roses, 

 we have found them amply to repay even a very little attention, but 

 they must have this attention before coming into the forcing-house, 

 starting in February with a few healthy plants wliicli have been un- 

 der cover all the winter (we prefer them on their own roots when 

 intended for specimen plants for pot culture). "We first cut away all 

 the small spray and shorten the stronger growths to five or six eyes, 

 endeavouring to lay the foundation of a well-balanced plant. If their 

 pots be well filled with roots, give them a shift into a size larger pot, 

 using a compost of one-half fibry loam, one-half old hotbed manure, 

 with a little river sand added. Have them taken into the forcing-house, 

 which may be a pit or early vinery; and where fermenting material is 

 used to assist in breaking the Vines in the latter structure, we have 

 found it answer well to plunge their pots in this until they have broken 

 regularly into growth. If any other structure be available where 

 they can have more light and air than in a vinery, it is to be pre- 

 ferred • if not, give them as light and airy a position in the vinery as 

 possible. Dust the pots with sulphur, and should any become affected 

 with mildew, have them removed from the others. When they have 



