DECEMBER. 873 



were taken up in February, had their roots trimmed and the branches 

 shortened one-third, and were laid in again. Towards the end of 

 March they were growing freely, and hence a similar process had to be 

 gone through, cutting off the growing part of the branches, and returning 

 the roots to their temporary quarters. This, as was intended, was a 

 second severe check, and a third had to be inflicted upon them at the end 

 of April, at which time they were planted out for good. At this 

 transplanting the Roses had formed a considerable quantity of young 

 fibre ; hence, as they were lifted, each plant had its roots placed in 

 water, and so remained until the station was ready for it to be planted. 

 In planting, the roots of each plant were washed in ; that is, sufficient 

 water was given to form a puddle, and so soon as the puddle had dried 

 a little the soil was made firm and an inch or two of loose dry soil was 

 placed around each plant, to prevent evaporation. Thus managed, but 

 few of the plants sustained any material check at the final planting, and 

 a large majority of them never received a second watering. 



Now this experiment was not confined to a few plants — or a few 

 dozens or hundreds — but extended to considerably over a thousand 

 plants, and in that quantity I can safely say I did not lose a dozen, 

 although the varieties comprised most of the finest Perpetuals in culti- 

 vation, and also Moss, Provence, and Hybrid Chinas. Of course the 

 plants were late coming into bloom, but the autumn bloom has been 

 very fine ; the flowers, both in size, colour, and substance, being much 

 finer than those exhibited by some of our crack west-country growers. 



Few people, I think, transplant Roses, even in November, with 

 greater success, most of the plants having made fine heads, and some of 

 them — as Paxton, Madame de Trotter, Louise Peyronney, Chenedole, 

 &c. — having made shoots four to five feet long, and proportionately 

 strong. Now the rationale of this system of management may be 

 comprised in the following propositions : — 



1. — A husbanding of the resources of the plant by gradual checks, 

 which had the effect of preventing growth at the top, yet at the same 

 time encouraged the formation of fibre. 



2. — A prevention of the loss of the juices of the plant by depriving it 

 of all the young shoots that could possibly be spared, and reducing the 

 evaporating surface of those retained to the lower leaf only, all above 

 that being cut away. 



3. — Planting so as to prevent the roots being injured, and at a time 

 when the soil was so warm that the fibres struck into it almost instantly. 



I submit this as a system of planting which may be practised in 

 certain emergencies, and in studying which the young gardener may 

 find some facts that may aid him in subsequent experiments. 



Orchardleigh Park, Frome. W. P. A. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

 Exhibitions of these have been numerous this autumn. In short 

 Chrysanth emums have now become so popular, both among amateur 

 and gardeners, that few persons fond of flowers care to be without them 



