194 WINDOW GARDENING. 



the soil, pressing the cut firmly into the ground, and twisting it a little, so that 

 the end of the tongue may have a downward tendency in the ground. May, 

 June, and July are the best months for layering, and by November they can be 

 cut off from the parent plants within two inches of the tongue, and potted in 

 small pots for the winter. 



The Chinese mode of layering differs a little from ours. They select in July 

 a strong shoot of the same year's growth, tongue it as described, cutting it just 

 below a bud or joint, and put in a little pebble to keep the slit open. Then 

 bind a ball of green moss around the tongue ; keep the moss constantly moist, 

 and roots will speedily shoot into it, and by six or seven weeks the layer will be 

 ready to cut off; it should then be planted in rich soil, without disturbing the 

 moss, and it can be sent, as a present to a friend, to any part of the country. 



There is a diversity of opinion regarding the best time for pruning Roses, but 

 M. Paul, the celebrated English Rose-grower, says : 



"A Rose in vigorous condition, healthy and full of sap, requires less pruning 

 than when it is of moderate or weak growth. The same degree of pruning, 

 applied to each condition would produce opposite results. Close pruning would 

 be the means of improving the health and flowering of a weak plant, while it 

 would induce a strong one to form wood shoots rather than buds." 



But it is a good rule to thin out the weak, unhealthy shoots, and even some 

 of the stronger ones, as soon as the plant has done flowering. This allows it to 

 make fresh roots, and then will follow new shoots and fresh buds. 



When the plants are out of flower remove the soil to the depth of an inch, if 

 you can do so without injuring the roots, and fill up with the richest soil you 

 can procure. This treatment will cause a fresh, vigorous growth, and insure 

 many buds to come. The decayed flowers should be at once removed, and the 

 stems cut back. 



Nothing but patient hand-picking and weekly showerings will keep away the 

 green fly. In the Chapter of Part I, which treats upon " Insects," antidotes are 

 given for all insects. 



No plant thrives better under applications of liquid manure, but care must be 

 taken not to give it so strong as to make all the leaves fall. A decoction of soot 

 is also good for it. Dissolve a tablespoonful of it in two quarts of warm water, 

 and apply to the roots once a week, and the growth of your plants will surprise 

 you. 



The Tea and China Roses are large shrubs in their native climes, and bloom 

 profusely; but our northern seasons do not allow them to grow so rapidly, yet 

 they fill our hearts with much pleasure. The buds of these varieties are much 

 handsomer than the expanded flowers, which are open in the centre, and fre- 

 quently show the stamens, while the Hybrid Perpetuals are very double. 



For winter flowering the following list embraces some of the best varieties : 



TEA. 

 Aurora, rich yellow, shaded to rose 



