98 THE GARDENER. [March 



tastes. It should not be lower than the side stages, or else the Roses 

 at the bottom will not obtain suflicient light, when the side stages are 

 filled with plants in pots, to be very satisfactory : 2 feet 6 inches is a 

 height which leaves ample room for drainage and border above the 

 level of the walks. Preparation should be made for a border under the 

 side stages in which Roses can be planted to train up the roof under 

 each rafter. It is not advisable to allow those planted to cover the 

 entire roof, or else light will be too much excluded. It is essential 

 that the borders should have a drain to carry away the water that 

 would otherwise stagnate about the roots, and in time prove fatal to 

 the wellbeing of the Roses. A quantity of broken bricks should 

 be placed in bottom for drainage about 1 foot in depth : this will 

 leave a space of 18 inches for soil, which is ample. The side borders 

 can be made more shallow if the growth is kept in due bounds, as 

 suggested. A turf grassy side downward should be placed over the 

 drainage before the compost is put in. The compost most suitable is 

 rich fibry loam, of rather a tenacious nature : a quantity of fine bones, 

 charcoal, or wood-ashes is also beneficial, and coarse river-sand. It may 

 be as well to say here that vegetable matter incorporated with the soil 

 for the border is not advisable : it decomposes too quickly, and has a 

 tendency to sour the border. When necessary, feeding is best done 

 by the application of manure-water and rich top-dressings. An arched 

 trellis should be provided for the centre bed, to train the Roses to, as 

 they show themselves off to greater advantage thus than any other way 

 I am acquainted with. 



It is necessary to consider the preparation of the plants for planting. 

 They can be readily raised at home, as the majority of Teas do well on 

 the Manetti, upon which stock they can be grafted with ease. Stocks 

 can be purchased cheaply, and potted in small pots ; and when root-action 

 is well commenced, and the wood intended for the scion is half-ripened, 

 the operation can be performed with success. They can also be pro- 

 pagated by cuttings from half-ripened wood, which undoubtedly is the 

 best. They are preferable on their own roots : if on the Manetti, they 

 should be potted or planted below where worked, so as to get them 

 upon their own roots. Plants ready worked and growing freely can 

 during April be purchased from any well-known nurserymen where 

 Roses are largely grown. When obtained while growing, they frequent- 

 ly are considerably checked in transit, and stand still for a long time. 

 Therefore, if possible, home-prepared plants are preferable. If rooted 

 in early spring from half-ripened wood, it is surprising, when afterwards 

 planted out, what progress is made in a season. 



We will consider the plants in 5-inch pots, which should be the first 

 shift after the scions are united to the stocks, or after the small pots 

 are full of roots in which they would be potted after being rooted. If 

 a slight bottom-heat can be given for a time, growth will be rapid, and 

 flower-buds as they appear must be removed. When the young plants 



