MAY 249 



growth, should be given a stake and carefully tied. If 

 bushy plants are desired, remove the point of the shoot 

 when it is six inches high. Roses in pots need liquid 

 manure now liberally, and the quantity may be increased 

 as the flowering stage approaches, but the liquid must 

 be clear and weak. If a rain-water tank is in the green- 

 house it is a good plan to put a little cow manure 

 in, so that at every watering weak liquid manure is 

 given, but of course one could not syringe with this 

 water. 



Plants in pots that have gone out of bloom should 

 be immersed in liquid manure for a short time, and the 

 growths cut back a little to nice plump buds. Ramblers 

 in pots that are passing out of bloom should be hardened 

 off in a cold house ; they may subsequently be planted 

 out of doors to fill up gaps upon arches or pillars. 



Cuttings from roses grown under glass may still be 

 inserted in pots of sandy soil, and placed in a hotbed 

 covered by a frame, where they will root very quickly. 



May 

 It has been said that first prizes are often lost and 

 won this month, the suggestion being that the attention 

 to or neglect of cultural details now will have an im- 

 portant bearing on the results. During this month pests 

 increase rapidly. The commonest are the green cater- 

 pillars and the aphis, or green fly. There are, of course, 

 many others, which are described more fully in the 

 chapter on insect enemies. The whole collection of 

 roses should be frequently examined for caterpillars, 



