15 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CULTIVATION OF ROSES IN POTS. 



The green fly is often very annoying. The most effectual way of 

 ridding ourselves of these pests appears to be by removing the plants 

 to a greenhouse for the time, or enclosing them, as they stand in the 

 beds, with a covering of wet garden mats placed double, or oiled 

 canvass, and by fumigating with tobacco. 



Disbudding, fyc. — When the buds first push, if two or three break 

 close together, the weakest, or those taking the least favourable direc- 

 tion, should be rubbed out. Such shoots as are inclined to grow rank, 

 without blooming, should be stopped or taken out, if not wanted to 

 form the head, for they appropriate to themselves the sap which 

 should be directed into the flower-branches, and further render the 

 plants of uneven growth. When the flower-buds are forming imper- 

 fectly they should be nipped out ; and the size of the early flowers 

 may be increased by removing, at an early stage, the small backward 

 flower-buds. 



" Shading. — When the plants commence flowering, it will be 

 necessary to shade them during the middle of the day ; and the 

 covering should be moveable, that they may have the advantage of 

 slight rains and dews. 



" Characteristics of Varieties suited for Pot Culture. — In 

 searching out the following, from an immense number of varieties 

 which I have had constant opportunities of looking over while in 

 bloom, I have endeavoured to hold in view the following points: — 

 1. Elegance of habit, regarding both growth and flowering. 2. Con- 

 trast of colour. 3. Abundance of bloom. 4. Form, or individual 

 outline of flower. 5. Duration of bloom. 6. Sweetness. Probably 

 few given will have a claim on all these points; some combine them 

 more intimately than others. The habit of a plant is always deserving 

 of regard, and especially when intended to be grown in a pot. As a 

 •class of Roses, the Bourbons may perhaps be given as a standard of 

 habit. In a collection, contrast of colour is of undoubted import; 

 and some will probably be found selected on account of their distinct- 

 ness, which otherwise would not have found place here. With regard 

 to flowering, many of our profuse blooming Roses are not the most 

 double nor the finest in form ; but the magnificent appearance they 

 present as pot plants, when viewed en masse, may perhaps be con- 

 sidered a sufficient plea for their insertion. These, however, may be 

 distinguished throughout the list by an asterisk being prefixed. There 



