186 REMARKS ON CULTURE OF ROSES IN POTS. 



and its freeness of growth, possesses the quality of being abundantly 

 furnished with fibrous roots ; and therefore it seems to be best of all 

 adapted to cater for a supply of food for its " adopted head." There 

 is no reason why it should not be sufficiently abundant at least to 

 supply stocks for pot roses, as it produces abundance of cuttings, and 

 strikes freely with a little warmth. I would therefore suggest its 

 very general adoption in this character, in addition to the numerous 

 others it so honourably bears. 



There remains yet a topic which it is desirable not to lose sight of 

 altogether : I refer to the root-pruning of roses in pots ; and there is 

 no plant which bears a judicious application of this feature in culti- 

 vation better than the subject before us. I would therefore recom- 

 mend its annual adoption with such plants as may have attained 

 considerable size. This should be performed before the plants -are 

 excited in the spring, removing a portion of the least fibrous roots, 

 and shortening the others ; this, with a corresponding reduction of 

 the branches, will have a salutary effect, and prevent the plants from 

 attaining to an unmanageable size. I would not, however, recom- 

 mend it with any other object in view. 



To sum up the foregoing in few words, I would recommend to 

 begin invariably with young plants ; to afford them every legitimate 

 inducement to grow freely ; to adopt two distinct methods of pruning 

 as specified ; the one to continually stop the young shoots, the other 

 to encourage them to their full length ; to apply manuring substances 

 and moisture sparingly, when light is deficient, and more abundantly 

 when it is abounding; to make the application of heat equally de- 

 pending on the absence or presence, the deficiency or abundance of light ; 

 in fact, to treat them as though the cultivator was really sensible that they 

 were organized beings, whose vitality depended on a supply of food 

 properly digested, and whose increase depended on a due performance 

 of the no less important functions of inspiration, respiration, and 

 assimilation. 



To conceive a Banksian rose covered with myriads of its enchant- 

 ing blooms ; a China rose bowing beneath the profuseness of its 

 fragrant blossoms ; a moss rose crowned with clusters of its noble 

 blossoms, some blazing with beauty, and others scarcely willing to 

 burst from their mossy envelope, as though they would teach mankind 

 to value beauty most where modesty strives most to conceal it ; these 



