THE ROSE GARDEN. 115 



play at one time, or a regular succession of flowers ? If the former, lower the 

 temperature of the house gradually, and run a thin canvas over the glass to 

 create a slight shade. This will give the buds longer time to expand, and the 

 flowers will be increased in size, improved in colour, and last longer. A conti- 

 nual succession of flowers may be obtained by removing the plants, at different 

 stages of forwardness, to a house with a lower temperature, where they get the 

 sun and air. It is plain that the time of flowering will be regulated by the tem- 

 perature of the house; and plain, also, that the finest flowers will be produced if 

 a moderate degree of heat be maintained. Has our treatment, then, guided, as in 

 some measure it must be, by the state of the weather without doors, caused them to 

 flower by the end of February, or is it March? Whichever it may be, here they 

 are, delighting us with their gay and varied colours, and shedding around a delicious 

 perfume. The Rose in bloom in winter, too ! Truly, this is a charmed flower. 



Here is a pause in the process of cultivation ; the Amateur has breathing time. 

 He has only to see that his favourites do not suffer from drought, and all will go 

 on well. But an active mind, which the cultivation of flowers usually engenders, 

 will find plenty of amusement in attending to his plants out of doors. Besides, is 

 it likely that a house of forced Roses should be known to exist without drawing 

 the proprietor's friends, or some anxious connoisseurs, around him ? And here is 

 one charm hanging over the pursuit : not only does the votary of floriculture 

 derive, from the purest sources, a calm and intellectual enjoyment, but he is at the 

 same time enabled to exhibit the science, in its most pleasing dress, to those around 

 him. 



When the flowering is over it is advisable to remove the summer bloomers. 

 Do not take them at once from the forcing-house and place them out of doors, for 

 the sudden change would prove injurious. Gradually harden them, by help of a 

 cold house, if standards, or a pit, if dwarfs. When the summer kinds are removed 

 fresh plants, kept in reserve for the purpose, may, if the Amateur wish, be brought 

 to fill their places. The autumnal bloomers may, however, be treated somewhat 

 differently : their shoots should be cut back to three or four eyes with good leaves 

 and they will give forth a second crop of flowers in grand perfection during April 

 and May. At the time they are cut back, it is well to remove a little of the sur- 

 face soil, replacing it with well- pulverized manure. 



After April, very little fire heat is required for the forcing-house : indeed, if the 

 weather be warm and sunny, none is needed. After the second flowering the ad- 

 mission of air should be gradually increased for a few days, when the plants may 

 be re-potted and removed from the house. In the operation of potting it will be 

 found necessary to shake away a portion of the soil, sometimes using larger pots, 

 and sometimes others of the same size : the old pots should not be used again till 

 they have been washed or well rubbed out. After potting, plunge the plants in 

 an airy and sunny situation, where they may remain till required for forcino- the 

 following year. Having been early excited, they will be disposed to rest early : 



