CHRISTMAS ROSES. '12\) 



plunged in sawdust or old tan in the open ground, 

 fully exposed to sun and air. They may be 

 allowed to bloom freely all June and July, but in 

 August and September every blossom-bud should 

 be pinched off; this will make the plants stout 

 and very robust, and towards the end of October 

 an abundant crop of incipient flower-buds will be 

 apparent ; the plants may then be removed to a 

 light and airy glazed pit or greenhouse, and 

 placed as near the glass as possible. No fire-heat, 

 imless frost is very severe, should be employed, 

 and abundance of air — they cannot have too much 

 • — should be given : it will also be much better to 

 place the pot on slates or on a layer of sand, 

 rather than on a dry wooden shelf. I am in- 

 duced to recommend sand from the perfect 

 success I have had with my plants, which after 

 being taken from the bed in which they had been 

 plunged all the summer, were placed on sand : 

 they put forth roots from the bottoms of the pots 

 into the sand, grew luxuriantly all November, 

 and commenced bloom.ing in December. On 

 January 4, I cut a most beautiful bouquet of 

 flowers. I may add, that, if large plants can be 

 procured, they may be potted into 8-inch pots, 

 and in process of time, into 12-inch ; so that large 

 bushes covered with flowers may ornament the 

 drawing-room in that month above all others in 

 which roses are ' rich and rare ' — December. 



At present I know only of three or four other 



