244 THE ROSE BOOK 



intervals, thus providing for a succession of bloom. 

 Plants potted up in October from the open ground, and 

 placed in these cold pits, may be introduced to the 

 greenhouse now, and will give some nice flowers later. 



Be careful in ventilating the house now. It is best 

 to give a very little air through the top ventilators 

 each day for a few hours ; then the foliage is not so 

 soft, and consequently less liable to mildew. If the 

 weather happens to be frosty or snow prevents work out 

 of doors, an opportunity is afforded one to look over 

 the show boxes and paint them if necessary. Labels 

 should also be written and stakes prepared. 



March 

 If, owing to unsuitable weather, work advised for 

 last month could not then be carried out, no time should 

 be lost now in bringing it to completion. This is a good 

 month for digging over the surface soil and for prepar- 

 ing beds in readiness for planting in late spring, especi- 

 ally in northern districts. It was formerly thought 

 that when March had arrived it was much too late to 

 plant roses, but this fallacy is now exploded. Pro- 

 viding the soil is in good, friable condition and dormant 

 plants are secured, the planting of roses now and through- 

 out April should be a success. It is well to bury the 

 plants in soil for two or three days after their arrival, 

 and when planting to cut down all shoots 'to three or four 

 inches of the base. The planting of stocks may still be 

 proceeded with. If straw or fern litter has been placed 

 among the roses for protection in winter, it may now 



