ROSE GROWING FROM SEED 199 



the surface of the soil, and push each one down to the 

 depth of half an inch with the blunt end of a lead pencil. 

 If each seed could be sown separately in a thumb pot, 

 so much the better ; then the little seedling plant would 

 not need to be transplanted. When several seeds are 

 sown in one pot it is usual to lift each seedling when it 

 has made two leaves, and place it in a tiny pot to itself, 

 repotting it later as it becomes well rooted. If the cross 

 happens to be a very choice one, it is a good plan to 

 secure a bud from the seedling as soon as available, 

 and bud it upon a brier stock potted up for the purpose. 

 When the plants are six or eight inches high, they 

 may be planted out of doors, say, in May or June, but 

 not earlier than this. It is unwise to sow choice rose 

 seed out of doors. Some patience is needed in growing 

 roses from seed, for the first seedlings do not usually 

 germinate for three months after seed sowing, and some 

 of them may not appear for a year. 



