AtJril 2, 1874. J 



JOURNAJj OF ItOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENKli 



27& 



sltuabed within the bark under the flower, and having a woolly 

 covering. Shoots or cuttings were also planted, and this mode 

 of propagating the plant was preferred to the above, because 

 their growth was more rapid. 



The cuttings, according to Pliny, were four fingers or more 

 in length, and were planted soon after the setting of the 

 Pleiades, perhaps about April, and were afterwards trans- 

 planted during the following spring. The young plants were 

 placed 1 foot distant one from another, and wero frequently 

 dug round. They required a light soil, not rich nor clayey, 

 nor one in which there were springs. Their favourite soil was 

 ground covered with the rubbish of old buildings. 



The following account of the cultivation of Rose trees is 

 given by Didymus in the " Geoponios." 



If you wish, says the above writer, to have a con.stant suc- 

 cession of Koses, plant and manure them every month. But 

 Boscs are planted in various ways. Some transplant them with 

 the root entire ; others take them up with the root, and cut 

 them down to the size of four tiugers in length, and plant all 

 that is cut off the roots, and what grows from them, at the 

 distance of 1§ foot from each other. Some weave wreaths of 

 Rose plants, and plant them for the sake of their fragrance. 

 But we ought to recollect that Koses will have more fragrance 

 when they are grown in dry places, in the same manner as 

 Lilies have. Roses come early both in baskets and in pots, 

 and requu-e the same attention as Gourds and Cucumbers. If 

 you wish those Rose trees already planted to bear flowers early, 

 dig a trench two palms in breadth from the plant, and pour 

 into it warm water twice a-day. Democritus says that if a 

 Rose is (thus ?) watered twice every day, in the middle of sum- 

 mer, it will bear flowers in the month of January. Florentinus 

 says a Rose may be grafted, or in-eyed, into the bark of an Apple 

 tree, and that Roses will appear at the same time the Apples 

 do. If from a few plants you wish to make more, take cuttings 

 of them, and, making them four fingers or a little more in 

 length, fet them into the ground. When they are a year old 

 transplant them at a distance of a foot from one another, and 

 tend them by careful digging, and removing all the rubbish 

 from about them. 



It was customary among the ancients to cut back and burn 

 down Rose trees, by which means the trees were increased in 

 size, and produced a larger number of flowers. Theophrastus 

 says that the flower by these means was rendered more beautiful. 



The Rose, like the Vine, appears to have grown most rapidly 

 when transplanted ; and Theophrastus informs us that, when 

 this was done frequently, a more beautiful flower was produced. 

 The Rose-tree cuttings required to be put into the ground 

 deeper than young fruit trees, and not so deep as Vines ; the 

 latter being sunk in the earth to the depth of 2 feet. Didymus 

 observes that the fragrance of the Rose is increased and im- 

 proved by being grown in the vicinity of Garlic* 



The rarity of early Roses made them valuable, and like all 

 vegetable productions obtained out of their season, they were 

 eagerly sought after, and bore a high price. 



" Kara juvaut: primis sic major pratia pomis, 

 HiberBK pretium sic meruere Rose." 



Marfml, lib. 4, cpls. 29. 



** The rai'e delishts: we find first Apples nice, 

 And winter Koses bear a tenfold price." 



Elphinston's trans. 



The employment of warm water for forcing Roses has already 

 been mentioned. Palladius and Seneca both allude to this 

 custom, and Pliny states that the time when it should be put 

 into practice is when the calyx of the Rose begins to sprout. 

 Columella and Pliny state that it was usual to cover plants 

 with the "lapis specularis " (talc), when it was an object to 

 make them produce their fruits early ; and this plan appears 

 from Martial to have been pursued with respect to flowers 

 also : — 



" Condita sic puro numerautur lilia vitro. 

 Sic proliibet teneras gemmal latere rosas." 



Lib. 4, epig. 22. 



" So tln-ough the crystal ai'o the Lilies told : 

 So does the gem the blushing Rose unfold." 



Elithimion's trans. 



Before quitting this portion of the subject, we must allude 

 to a singular practice mentioned by Didymus in the passage 



* The Paistan Rose unfolds 



Her bud more lovely near the fetid Leek." 



Philips, Cider, v. 254. 



t By "gemma" is to ' 

 covered in gardens. 



understood the tale with which the Rosea were 



from the " Geoponics" above quoted — namely, the weaving of 

 wreaths, and planting them; because Casaubon, in his " Com- 

 ments upon AtheniPus," where a passage is quoted from 

 Nicander's " Georgics," in which it is mentioned that fre- 

 quently a complete crown made of Ivy is planted, says, " Ri- 

 dicuUim est, . . . intfrdioii coronam Ip^aiii lit'deraceam cum 

 siiin racemis esse plantandam." It is probable that Casaubon 

 had not met with the passage in the "Geoponics" which 

 proves the possibility of forming wreaths thus ; and, more- 

 over, shows that it was by no means an uncommon practice 

 to " plant crowns." 



A FEW WORDS ABOUT DR.MNAGE AND 

 WATERING AS APPLIED TO PLANTS IN POTS. 



In the article of last month's " Gardener " [see page 259] the 

 most important points in connection with the cultivation of 

 plants in pots are touched upon, and their discussion invited. 

 In compliance with the invitation I beg to make a few remarks 

 in reference to drainage and watering. Without moisture at 

 their roots plants cannot live and thrive for any great length 

 of time, neither can they do so if the moisture in the soil is 

 in excess of their requirements : hence we drain our gardens 

 and fields where the nature or condition of the soil demands 

 it ; and in the matter of flower pots special provision is made 

 in them for the escape of superabundant moisture, provided 

 we only supply suitable drainage materials in sufficient quan- 

 tity at the time the plants are being transferred to them. The 

 effect of neglecting to do so, as shown in the article referred 

 to, should impress on the mind of all who are desirous of be- 

 coming successful cultivators of plants in pots the importance 

 and absolute necessity of performing this operation in a 

 thoroughly efficient manner. 



I have been long impressed with the fact that efficient drain- 

 age and judicious watering are the two most important opera- 

 tions connected with the culture of plants in pots. If the 

 drainage is ample, and care is taken to prevent the soil from 

 mixing with it at the time the plants are being transferred to 

 the pots, two very important conditions towards the future 

 welfare of the plants are thereby secured. The best two ma- 

 terials with which I am acquainted for preventing the soil from 

 becoming mixed with and chokiug-up the drainage in flower 

 pots are cocoa-nut fibre and hair, the same as that used by 

 plasterers. A slight layer of either of these placed over the 

 drainage will prevent for a long time the soil getting mixed 

 therewith. Moss and the fibry portions of the compost are 

 also good for this purpose, and are the materials of tenest used ; 

 but the others are preferable where they are to be had. When 

 the drainage is efficient to begin with, it is one point in favour 

 of the plants not getting injured or made to suffer through 

 careless watering afterwards. But the knowledge that the 

 drainage is good should in no wise lessen the responsibility of 

 those whose duty it is to supply the plants with water ; and 

 all the skill and knowledge of which they are possessed in 

 reference to this particular operation should be brought into 

 action on each occasion that it is performed. 



Perhaps there is not a more difficult subject connected with 

 gardening to write about than that of watering plants in pots. 

 It is admitted by all who understand the matter, that no defi- 

 nite rule can be laid down as to how often it may be necessary 

 to do 80. The circumstances and conditions are so varied 

 under which plants in pots are grown, that it is impossible to 

 lay down a rule in reference to watering that would with any 

 degree of certainly apply to all of them. One thing, however, 

 we may state with safety, that water should be given as soon 

 as it is required, but not before. The difficulty, however, is to 

 know the precise state of dryness, consistent with the welfare 

 of the plants, at which the soil should be allowed to arrive 

 before water is given. This can only be learned through prac- 

 tical experience, and a knowledge of the amount of moisture 

 necessary in the soil to maintain healthy and vigorous growth 

 in the particular plants being operated on. 



I am inchned to think that in a general way more harm is 

 done, especially to plants growing in large pots, through over- 

 watering than what takes place through a deficiency thereof. 

 If through overwatering or imperfect drainage the soil in a 

 large pot becomes sodden and sour, it is ten to one if ever it 

 becomes sweet again while it remains in the same pot. No 

 doubt by withholding water it will bo got into a dry state, but 

 it will always have a greater tendency to become sour after- 

 wards than if it had not been overwatered previously. This 

 should make us careful to guard against overwatering plants 



