CHAP. XII VILLA GAEDENING 207 



show, to enable them to develop into large and handsome speci- 

 mens. I have already referred to the necessity for the plants 

 standing thinly. One handsome well-grown plant vn.\\ give more 

 satisfaction than a dozen drawn-up Aveakly things will do. No 

 amount of cultural skill can produce handsome pot Roses unless 

 they have jDlenty of space, i.e. the leaves of one plant must not 

 touch those of its neighbour. The plants from the central bed 

 may be moved to the open air in October, or earlier if required, 

 and the exposure will have a resting and ripening tendency, and 

 diu'ing the autumn a grand Chrysanthemum show may be had in 

 the central bed. Roses and Chrysanthemums may in this way be 

 linked with each other, as the latter will endure a smoky atmo- 

 sphere better than the Rose, though Roses will take no harm in 

 the autumn, when growth is completed, if they are housed again 

 before the buds begin to move. 



Insects and Diseases. — Roses are more easily kept clean 

 under glass than in the open air. Fvunigation with Tobacco will 

 make short work of the flies. Mildew must be met, if it makes 

 its appearance, with a dressing of sulphur, either in a dry or a 

 liquid form. A genial atmosphere and healthy root action are the 

 best antidotes for insect pests or for diseases of any kind. 



The second year the potting should be done in autumn, using 

 the same compost as has been previously recommended, giving the 

 strong plants a liberal shift. The weakly ones, after being re- 

 duced, may perhaps go back into the same size again. The pruning 

 should be less severe, as we want the plants to increase in size — 

 to form, in fact, handsome specimens ; and the strong flowering 

 wood may be left in some cases a foot long, at the same time 

 keeping the plant symmetrical and well balanced, for if the plant 

 pushes upward too fast the base will become weak. As the plants 

 grow, especially in succeeding years, a little training will be 

 necessary, as the heavy flowers will require support to prevent 

 them falling over and sustaining damage. A few neat light 

 stakes will answer the purpose very well, but no more should be 

 used than are needed, as sticks do not add to the charms of the 

 Rose. 



Standard Roses in Pots are longer lived than in open air, 

 and if not too tall are very useful. Especially is it desirable to 

 have a few standards for mixing with a collection of dwarfs. They 

 take off the sameness, break up the monotony as it were, and add 

 to the interest of the collection. At the beginning of this chapter 

 there is a description of an ideal rose -house; but Roses may be 

 grown successfully under any kind of glass roof, and I hope I have 

 said nothing likely to deter any one fond of Roses from beginning 



