RAISING NEW VARIETIES. {97 
soil. If they do well they can be left there 
over winter, of course being protected, and 
allowed to remain for testing. They com- 
mence to flower the second year, but many 
of them show no signs of bloom until the 
third or fourth year. Instead of planting 
them out in open ground, some or all can re- 
main in pots, the plants being shifted from 
time to time to pots of a larger size. One is 
apt to become very impatient waiting for the 
seedlings to flower; the result can be hast- 
ened by taking buds from them and inserting 
on some stock of good growth. Many of 
the seedlings will produce flowers quite 
single; these plants are to be at once rooted 
out. Now and then we may find double 
flowers of good finish; these are to be com- 
pared with flowers of old varieties, which 
they seem most to resemble, to ascertain 
whether they are distinct sorts or only in- 
ferior imitations of established favorites. 
It will often require considerable moral cour- 
age to refrain from calling our geese, swans. 
But if it is found, and admitted by general 
consent, that we have originated something 
both beautiful and distinct, ah, what pride 
and satisfaction do we feel! Surely, there 
can be no more pleasing occupation for those 
who love and grow roses, than by hybridiz- 
