1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 25 



Hardy Roses to go blind of flowers. It is of the greatest import- 

 ance that the roots of all varieties should become active in ad- 

 vance of the tops, so as to become the impelling power. Beware 

 lest you invert the process and cause the leaves to become the 

 pumping power. It is well to treat your pot roses as you do 

 Dutch Hyacintlis ; plunge them in a cold frame in the fall, or in 

 the cellar, anywhere that you can keep the roots warm and com- 

 fortable while the tops are cold. See that the young and white 

 roots are pushing strongly before you bring the plants into the 

 house. Let them start slowly, as in the case of a lingering 

 spring, and you will have shoots and foliage, as well as bloom, 

 which will delight the eye. But no, this is not all ; one more 

 condition back of this we must have, if we would avoid all dis- 

 appointment. In the case of many plants it is obvious that the 

 bloom is developed and matured by the growth of the previous 

 season. The Camellia and the Azalea, as you may have noticed, 

 set their buds large and plump in the fall, and only await expan- 

 sion in the warmth of spring, or earlier if they are forced. Now 

 it is evident that in those plants the main part of the work is 

 already accomplished, the strength is stored up, a genial atmos- 

 phere will expand the buds and do the rest. JSTow we may not 

 as plainly discern in all plants this economy of nature in accumu- 

 lating force for future use, but experience is certainly indicating 

 that it is none the less true with roses and with all our most 

 valuable plants. Nature makes careful preparation l)oforehand ; 

 she lays sure foundations before she entertains the thought of 

 ornament. Surely the knowledge of this law is a great advan- 

 tage to us who propose to obtain all the beauties of the seasons 

 in mid-winter. For if we can store up a reserve force in the 

 plants in the summer previous, with all the help of a genial sun, 

 so that we have only to develop these accumulated stores, why 

 then the winter work is largely done before it is begun. Yes, 

 this is really so. We can produce rose plants of such vigor and 

 with such ripened wood in the summer previous that little is left 

 to be done except to give a gradual development. If you will 

 do this, if you can so encourage your plants during the summer 

 that the pots shall be well tilled with strong roots in the fall, and 

 the wood is hard and firm and the eyes are prominent and large, 

 then you may say that nine-tenths of your work is done, and the 

 rest is easily accomplished. No potting on or shifting is to be 

 allowed ; only cutting back the wood to a few prominent eyes and 

 starting them slowlj' after a short rest. By giving heed to the 

 proverb of the wise man, and following the example of the little 

 ant, which having no guide, overseer or ruler, provideth her 

 meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest, we 



