250 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



311. Forcing hardy roses. Within recent years there 

 has arisen a demand for potted roses for Easter trade, and 

 many of the hardy varieties are now grown for this pur- 

 pose. 



312. Types most generally forced. The roses of the 

 rambler type are especially suited for forcing as potted 

 plants. Several of them are dwarf and make compact, 

 attractive plants. It is possible to train others of the 

 climbing type into unusual forms, and such are sold as 

 novelties. Many of the hybrid perpetuals also force 

 easily. 



313. Securing the stock. Stock of these roses may be 

 bought from a nurseryman or the plants may be propa- 

 gated from cuttings. The cuttings are usually made 

 from half-ripened wood and inserted in a hotbed in late 

 summer. When rooted, they are put into two and one- 

 half inch pots and grown in the greenhouse throughout 

 the winter, then planted outside the following spring. 

 Plants two or three years old are most satisfactory for 

 forcing. 



314. Preparation of ramblers for forcing. To secure 

 good results from forcing the rambler roses, the plants 

 should be dug from the field early in the spring and put in 

 rather large pots. When well established, they should be 

 plunged in the open ground, and every effort made to 

 encourage strong growths of wood during the summer. 

 The wood should be supported on a stake or fence so that 

 it will ripen thoroughly in the fall. The plants should be 

 well fed and watered during the season, and receive all 

 the sun and air possible. As fall approaches, the wood 

 should be allowed to ripen gradually. After several heavy 

 frosts, the plants are lifted and stored in a frame until such 

 a time as is desired to force them. 



