THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 179 



an unhealthy appearance. Some few of the two sets first purchased 

 have been destroyed, but by far the largest proportion are now buxom 

 bushes, the largest quite thirty inches across, and in the course of 

 the spring have quite three dozen flowers. 



Acting upon the advice given in the " Amateur's Ejse Book," I 

 am particular in having the pot-roses well cared for during the 

 summer season. Eoses appear to be most impatient of neglect, for 

 a few of my plants that were not well looked after in the summer of 

 1873, are a long way behind the best of those which had jjroper 

 attention. As they go out of bloom, they are placed in a cold pit 

 for a fortnight or so, and then removed to a shady position out of 

 doors for the summer season. The pots are, as in the first season, 

 stood upon coal ashes to prevent the worms finding their way into 

 the pots, or through the holes in the bottom. The supplies of water 

 are fairly liberal during the summer season, and any shoots that 

 make a too rapid progress, and are likely to rob their weaker neigh- 

 bours of their fair share of nourishment, are cut back to about twelve 

 inches when eighteen inches in height. Early in September, the general 

 repotting takes place ; each plant is turned out of its pot, the ball 

 of soil is reduced, and it is returned to another pot, carefully drained, 

 perfectly clean, and either of the same size or one size larger, ac- 

 cording to the necessity of the plant. A compost, formed by mixing 

 together fibrous loam and well decayed manure in the proportion of 

 four parts of the former to one of the latter is used. They are 

 returned to their summer quarters, and supplied less freely with 

 water than during the summer season. In November, the whole 

 stock is removed to a cold pit, and the pruning is done early in 

 January. A few of the most vigorous plants are started, in the 

 manner already described, to bloom early, and the others are allowed 

 to produce their bloom with no more assistance than that aflorded 

 by the cold pit ; and "as the latter bloom even more satisfactorily, 

 amateurs must not force any portion of the stock. 



With the assistance of the book mentioned above, those who 

 Lave plenty of time on their hands may, after purchasing a few 

 plants to begin with, maintain the stock by means of cuttings, which 

 do not appear to be so very difficult to strike. I have but little time 

 to spare for garden work ; and as the price of established varieties 

 both in and out of pots is, comparatively speaking, so low, I prefer 

 to purchase the few plants required. 



The following are especial favourites with me and my friends, 

 .and I do not think they will fail in pleasing any one fond of roses, 

 namely : — 



Hybrid Perpetuals : Alfred Goloml, Anna Alexieff, Baroness 

 Itothscliild, Beauty of Wallham, Charles Lefehvre, Dr. Andry, BuJce 

 of ]£dinhurcjh, Etienne Levet, General Jacqueminot, Madlle. Eugenie 

 "Verdier, Marie Baumann, Marquis de Castellane, Victor Verdkr. 

 Hybrid China : Cluirles Lawson. Noisette : Celine Forestier. Tea- 

 ecented : Catherine Mermef, Madame Camille, Marie Sisleij, and 

 "President. 



June. 



