VI PRUNING 111 
it, but we ought not to want Roses under glass when 
there are plenty out of doors. I know of no system 
which will so well provide for the utilisation of the 
strong autumnal growth ; and the blooms from these 
strong shoots are far superior to any that can be 
gathered from older wood or weak laterals. 
As the cultivation of Maréchal Niel under glass by 
this method should result in the production of a large 
number of fine Roses all at once, and there will 
probably be a desire to send some away to friends 
by post or rail, this seems a good place to say some- 
thing as to the packing and carriage of Rose blooms 
in general. For sending large quantities by rail, the 
method that professionals have learnt by experience 
had better be followed: in a shallow box the Roses, 
gathered quite dry, should be laid flat in rows as 
closely together as possible, and all the same way ; 
the ends of the shoots are wrapped in a mass of 
strips of some slightly absorbent paper well wetted 
—a much cleaner material than moss—and the 
whole made as tight as possible and covered with 
clean paper. 
Roses often travel badly by post, the reason being 
that, if packed as above in an oblong box, the parcel 
is often carried perpendicular in the postman’s 
basket, and the Roses standing on their heads will 
all work down to one end and bruise the most tender 
and beautiful parts—the tips of the petals. For 
choice specimens, or at any time for small quantities, 
I would recommend that each actual flower be care- 
fully wrapped in soft tissue paper, with a little 
cotton wool at the bloom end of the package, and 
much greater security by post can be attained by 
tying the stems in some simple manner to the 
