ROSES, POMPON. 



438 



ROSES IN POTS. 



colours, and the admirable contrast they 

 present. The beds for these delicate roses, 

 where they are confined to one variety, 

 should be small, as should be the garden. 

 They are best adapted for a fairy garden, 

 which should be well drained, otherwise 

 they could not survive the winter. What- 

 ever the soil, the beds will be improved by 

 its being removed to the depth of 18 inches 

 to 2 feet, and replaced with a layer of 

 stones and brick and lime rubbish, for 

 drainage. If the natural soil is pretty 

 good, it may be returned, after mixing it 

 with a portion of decomposed cow dung, 

 adding a little sand, the whole thoroughly 

 blended together; rich vegetable mould 

 full of fibre will do. 



These roses should be on their own 

 roots and planted in autumn. The stocks 

 on which they are usually budded are too 

 gross for their delicate structure. Plant 

 them 15 inches apart if it is intended to 

 peg them down, so as to cover the bed ; if 

 they are to stand apart, 18 inches will be 

 better. In March, or early in April, when 

 all danger from frost is over, they may be 

 pruned. Use the knife sparingly ; cut out 

 all dead wood, and regulate the branches ; 

 this is all that will be required. 



As the season advances, water them 

 from time to time with weak liquid manure, 

 removing all decaying leaves ; and where 

 they have bloomed in clusters, cut back to 

 the next bud, from which they will again 

 break, and bloom in the autumn. Short 

 shoots, showing no bloom, should have the 

 terminal buds pinched off on attaining the 

 length of 5 or 6 inches ; the lateral shoots 

 that are thrown out will probably bloom 

 freely. 



During the winter keep the buds as dry 

 as possible; they are even worth protecting 

 from the cold rains. The following list 

 includes the best of the class, those marked 

 with an asterisk are miniature China 

 Toses : 



Alba,* flowers compact and of the purest white. 

 Burgundy, pale purplish pink, very dwarf and 



small. 

 Crested or Cristata, rose with pale edges, large 



and beautiful. 



De Meaux, rosy lilac, very small bloom. 

 Etoile d'Or, citron, vigorous and free blooming 



of dwarf habit. 

 Little Gem, miniature crimson moss, small and 



double. 

 Lucida Rose Button, very small double rose, 



miniature flowers, shining foliage. 

 Mignonette, delicate rose, changing to white. 

 Rubra,* rosy red ; like Alba in form. 

 Spong, rosy lilac, flower rather longer than De 



Meaux. 



White Burgundy, white slightly tinted, dwarf. 

 White Dwarf Pet, * vigorous habit, with 



charming little flowers. 



All these roses may bfc grown in pots 

 with advantage for blooming in spring. 

 In March they require a moderate shift, 

 using good fibrous turfy loam and cow 

 dung. Protect them in a cold frame ; 

 water occasionally with manure water, and 

 pinch off all buds and shoots when about 

 4 inches long, and give another shift during 

 the summer. In September they will be- 

 come bushy plants, ready for shifting into 

 their blooming pots, which must not be 

 large, using the soil already recommended. 

 Keep them in a cold frame through the 

 winter, giving very little water. In spring, 

 apply manure water, and prune as recom- 

 mended for out-of-door culture. 



Roses in Pots. 



The best compost for roses is a good stiff 

 loam one bushel, rotten dung from an old 

 hotbed one peck, and half a gallon of 

 pigeon dung, or double the quantity of 

 sheep dung, well decomposed. Another 

 good soil is a turfy loam, rather stiff, and 

 well-decomposed cow dung in about equal 

 parts. These, with good drainage in the 

 pots, gentle forcing, careful examination for 

 insects, and keeping the trees well balanced 

 and neatly trained and tied down to theii 

 supports, with constant attention to 

 watering with liquid manure, as well as 

 pure water, will produce abundance of 

 bloom. All the strong-growing varieties, 



