126 THE GARDENER. [March 



cool vinery or greenhouse, where they will get as much light as possible. 

 After they have shed their leaves just give them as much water as will 

 keep the bulbs from shrivelling. When they begin to show flower take 

 them into heat, dip each pot for a minute or two in water to thor- 

 oughly moisten the compost : in fact, they should be dipped very often 

 in their growing season, as the small roots interlace the compost so 

 much that if they happen to get dry the water will not go into the pot 

 unless they are dipped. This applies to a great many Orchids, espe- 

 cially those that have been at rest for some time. When a lot are grown 

 singly in 4-inch pots, they look very nice standing round a collection 

 of Orchids or stove-plants, or for furnishing purposes. When taken into 

 heat, if a few pieces of Selaginella are dibbled into the sphagnum it 

 makes up for the absence of their foliage. They can be taken into 

 heat in batches to prolong the flowering season. Most people grow 

 them in pans : as they root near the surface this plan suits them very 

 well j if in pots, they want more drainage. W. S. P. 



[This paper came to hand just after F. W. B.'s paper in last month was 

 sent to the printers.] 



ROSE NOTES FOR AMATEURS. 



It is often said, no flower is a greater favourite with all classes than 

 the Rose. We have only to look about our own doors for proof of 

 the correctness of this, as we fail to find a garden where flowers are 

 grown that does not contain Roses. When we go from home and 

 meet with amateurs interested in gardening, eleven out of every twelve 

 of them will speak about Roses before the shortest horticultural con- 

 versation has been finished, and many will introduce their remarks 

 with a reference to the Rose. Such has been our experience : only the 

 other day an esteemed lady put a host of questions to us about Roses, 

 and we referred her to the 'Gardener' for information on this and 

 kindred subjects. 



The kinds to plant, how to plant, and when to plant, are leading 

 questions. If I named one dozen Hybrid Perpetuals and one dozen 

 Teas, I daresay I would have some falling out with me about my 

 selection, and wanting to substitute or add to. This is an evil, as it 

 is just by increasing our varieties that we make them collections, 

 and in doing so very often lose sight of selection. It is the latter that 

 amateurs should always aim at, not only in Roses, but everything in 

 their gardens. Collections are interesting, but selections are more 

 satisfactory. The following are the twenty -four Roses we would 

 recommend to amateurs, under the generality of circumstances, as most 

 likely to be really useful ; and where numbers were wanted, we would 

 have the same kinds twice or more times over : Hybrid Perpetuals — 



