THE ROSE GARDEN. 101 



4. Form or individual outline of the flowers. 



5. Duration and constant succession of bloom. 



6. Sweetness. 



What, says the tyro, can we find so many good properties combined in one 

 variety ? Can we obtain a Rose of an elegant habit, an abundant bloomer, the 

 outline of whose flowers is at the same time perfect, remaining a long time in 

 full beauty, and that is very sweet ? Truly, such cases are rare. Few have a 

 claim on all these points, but some combine them more intimately than others ; 

 and it is these we should choose. 



Roses intended for growing in pots may be either on their own roots or on 

 short stems : the Tea-scented and Chinese kinds are undoubtedly better in the 

 former way. Let us suppose any number of young plants are obtained on their 

 own roots in 60-sized pots in the spring of the year. In the first place, they 

 should be shifted into 48 or 32-sized pots, according to the rate of growth of the 

 plant, and the quantity of roots it has made; then plunge tbem, seeing that they 

 are watered as often as the soil becomes dry. I believe that Roses cultivated to 

 bloom at their natural period cannot be placed in too airy a situation ; therefore 

 I would keep them constantly plunged in an open spot in the garden, removing 

 the tender kinds only, on the approach of winter, for shelter against frost. 



Some object to plunging, and prefer placing the pots on the level ground, pack- 

 ing moss, cinder ashes, or sawdust between them. Practically speaking, it seems 

 to matter but little ; and, whichever plan is adopted, there are two things to guard 

 against — the ingress of worms from the ground, and the egress of the roots from 

 the hole in the bottom of the pot. If the roots find their way into the ground 

 there will be few formed in the pot ; and the result will be, a more vigorous, but 

 less perfect, growth : and if the plants are required to be removed at the time of 

 flowering, they will receive a severe check. Both of these occurrences must 

 therefore be prevented, by placing the pots on inverted seed-pans. 



It must not be expected that the plants will all maintain the same rate of 

 growth : some will grow vigorously, others not so. Now, although we would 

 not wish to deprive the cultivator altogether of the reward of his care and 

 labour — the flowers, yet we would say, a few only should be suffered to develope 

 themselves the first year, and the seed-vessels should be cut off when the flowers 

 drop. The aim throughout the growing season should be to get a few stout, 

 well-ripened shoots by autumn — shoots that will bear strong pressure between the 

 finger and thumb without giving any indication of softness, for it is these which 

 will produce strong and perfect blooms. 



The way to accomplish this is to place the plants a good distance from each 

 other, and, as the young shoots form, they should be set wide apart, that they may 

 enjoy the full sunlight. From the earliest period of growth, it is necessary to look 

 them over occasionally, with the design of encouraging such shoots as maintain 

 the best position, and checking those whose tendency is to exclude others from a 



(Div. I.) s 3 



