102 PARSONS ON THE ROSE. 



CHAPTER yi. 



POTTING AND FORCING. 



" Seek Roses in December, ice in June."— Btbok. 



Every variety of Rose, in the hands of a skillful man, 

 will grow and bloom well in pots, although the Bengal 

 and its sub-classes, and the more dwarf Hardy Roses, are 

 the most easily managed. The great point in potting is 

 to imitate planting in the open ground as nearly as possi- 

 ble. The soil used should possess all the nutritious ele- 

 ments required in the open ground, and, if possible, in 

 somewhat greater abundance. More manure should be 

 used, because the frequent watering required by plants in 

 pots must inevitably wash away a portion of the fertiliz- 

 ing matter. There is nothing better than one portion of 

 stable manure, and three of turf, or leaf-mould, all well 

 decomposed, and mixed with a little pure peat earth. A 

 portion of night-soil, well incorporated with charcoal, is 

 also very excellent. Charcoal is the most powerful ab- 

 sorbent known ; it retains the nutritious elements in the 

 night-soil, prevents their being washed away by watering, 

 and gives them out as the plant needs them. English 

 gardeners should bear in mind that roses require in this 

 climate a stronger soil than in England. Half-gallon pots 

 are the best size at first, from which, by repeated pottings, 

 corresponding with the growth of the plant, they can be 

 shifted to one or two-gallon pots. The size of the pots 

 should, however, be regulated by the extent of the roots ; 

 it should be just sufficiently large to allow the roots to go 

 in without crowding. A few bi'oken pieces of pots or 

 small lumps should be put in the bottom for drainage. 

 When the plant is to be taken from the open ground, se- 



