194 THE ROSE BOOK 



in a loamy compost in which a fair quantity of silver sand 

 is mixed. Great care is necessary in watering. A slight 

 spraying with the syringe on bright days is essential, 

 and the temperature must not fall below 55 °. From 

 58 to 65 is a good temperature to maintain by day and 

 55 by night. The hard growths of the previous year 

 make the best scions, but green wood, i.e. growths that 

 have just flowered, may be used. When a variety is 

 very scarce the tops are taken from the young, grafted 

 plants, and they in turn are used as grafts. This system 

 is not commended, for it has a tendency to debilitate 

 the rose and is responsible for lack of vigour in many 

 new roses. 



There is nothing gained by grafting roses out of 

 doors ; indeed, it is rarely successful. But the French 

 nurserymen graft many thousands of seedling Briers 

 in the winter time and plant them in sand under cloches 

 afterwards, transplanting to the open ground in May 

 and June. Briers potted up into five-inch pots may be 

 budded in June, and by so doing the trouble of grafting 

 is obviated, for if these budded Briers are placed in a 

 warm greenhouse in December, and the tops cut off 

 close to the inserted buds, the latter will soon grow and 

 make better plants than the grafted ones. This is a 

 simple method of obtaining pot roses. Briers budded in 

 June would make plants fit for forcing in eighteen 

 months. 



ROSE GROWING FROM SEED 



This is most fascinating work, but comparatively few 

 amateurs seem to engage in it. It is true that roses are 



