CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 45 



should be taken up with care, the large straggling roots 

 cut back, and all bruised ends removed with a sharp knife. 

 The ends of the branches should also be cut back. They 

 may then tfe potted in the compost just described, which 

 should first be sifted through a very coarse sieve. The 

 pots must be well drained with broken crocks placed over 

 the hole at the bottom. Care must be taken that the pot 

 be not too large, as this is very injurious. A sharp stick 

 may be used to compact the soil about the roots; and from 

 half an inch to an inch in depth should be left empty at 

 the top, to assist in thorough watering, which is a point 

 of the first importance. 



When the roses are potted, they should be placed in a 

 light cellar or shed, or under a shady wall. They must be 

 well watered, and it is well to syringe them occasionally. 

 In a week or two they will have become established, and 

 may then be removed to a greenhouse without fire, and 

 with plenty of air ; care, however, being taken to protect 

 them from frost at night. 



The roses so treated are intended for blooming from 

 mid- winter to the end of spring; and we shall soon speak 

 further of them under the head of Forcing. 



A great desideratum is the obtaining of roses in the 

 early part of winter. This may be done by growing ever- 



