i88i.] THE ROSE-HOUSE AND POT-ROSES. 345 



exhibitors of Rose-blooms say to Safrano, Isabella Sprunt, or the old 

 China Roses 1 yet they are all lovely in the bud, and their adaptability 

 for flowering profusely in the winter secures for them a foremost 

 place. On the same standard should the Hybrid Teas be judged, and 

 amongst them Nancy Lee should hold a prominent position. It grows 

 well on its own roots, strikes as freely as the La France, and blooms 

 when quite small, continuing to do so for a long time. Yicomtesse 

 Falmouth is also useful, flowering well in a small state, and is well 

 adapted for decoration in 5-inch pots : it grows strong enough for 

 this purpose on its own ^oots. Hon. Geo. Bancroft is useful for the 

 same purpose. Beauty of Stapleford is a stronger grower than the 

 preceding two, and a most abundant bloomer. Duchess of Con- 

 naught and Pearl are also very good and useful. The two first 

 named, so far, have distinguished themselves best with me. 



To return to the Rose-house, in which, at this season of the year, we 

 allow the growths to ramble at will for the sake of looking tidy and neat, 

 growers generally tie them closely to the trellis. This should not be 

 done in the latter stages of growth, as by so doing the shoots that have 

 been previously made are induced to break again and form wood 

 which will neither be of service nor ripen, thus prolonging the growing 

 season of the plants. Our plants are tied down for the sake of appear- 

 ance, while the family is here for a short time in July, which is not 

 sufiiciently long to cause them to break ; the ties are then cut and the 

 shoots set at liberty. By allowing them an upright growth soft wood 

 is prevented in autumn, and light and air play more freely amongst 

 the shoots. By the end of the present month, or early in September, 

 if growth shows signs of ceasing, we remove all the soft-growing ends, 

 which further induces them to rest. Care must be exercised in this 

 direction, and the grower must be perfectly satisfied that they will 

 not again break into growth. This year our bed of Roses has grown 

 remarkably strong and bloomed abundantly. Through the severe 

 weather in winter they did not fail to give us a good supply of buds, 

 especially from Safrano and Isabella Sprunt. The scarlet variety 

 of the former is very free, and will no doubt prove invaluable, but we 

 cannot yet say how it will stand mid-winter forcing. Our Rose-bed 

 will be pruned early in October ; and in doing this operation a good 

 many weak shoots are removed and the strong ones well shortened 

 back. Hitherto they have been pruned rather hard back, and the 

 result has been very satisfactory. After pruning, the house should be 

 thoroughly cleaned, and a small portion of the top soil of the bed 

 removed, replacing it with good rich loam, a quantity of small bones, 

 and wood-ashes. 



Roses in pots for the autumn supply should now be growing freely, 

 plunged outside. They should be liberally supplied with manure- 

 water to keep them growing, removing the buds as they appear until 

 the end of the month. After this they can be allowed to form, and 



