CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 81 



stand in a warm, sunny exposure. The pods should be 

 laid in the sun to dry, then broken up, and the seed sepa- 

 rated by means of a sieve. 



% 



We have found the following mode of sowing a success- 

 ful one : A frame a shallow hot-bed frame answers per- 

 fectly should be prepared by making within it a bed of 

 loam, old manure, leaf-mould, and sand, at least eighteen 

 inches deep. These materials should be thoroughly mixed, 

 and the surface layer for an inch or two in depth sifted 

 through a moderately coarse sieve, and then levelled and 

 smoothed. The seeds may be sown broadcast ; that is to 

 say, scattered over the surface. They may be sown thickly, 

 as not a third part will germinate ; and, when sown, they 

 should be pressed firmly into the soil with a board or the 

 back of a spade. Then the same soil should be sifted over 

 them to the depth of half an inch, and pressed down very 

 lightly. Some will prefer to sow them in drills, which 

 should be about six inches apart; the seed in no case being 

 more than half an inch deep. Now leave the frame open, 

 and exposed to rain and frost. Just before the heavy 

 snows begin, and when the whole is hard frozen, cover it 

 with boards and mats, that it may remain frozen till 

 spring. The object of this is to protect the seeds from 

 mice, which are exceedingly fond of them. When the 



