82 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Comley's, newly imported rose bushes which were cut back very 

 severely, potted, and placed in the potting shed. The next year 

 very fine flowers were shown from these plants. 



Mr. Hovey said that the plants might be forced when younger, 

 or only one year old, but it would not be profitable to grow a plant 

 for a single bud. The one great object is to have plants with 

 many flowers, and this cannot be done on very young plants. 



The Chairman remarked that the question was merely as to the 

 quantity of blooms from a plant. The commercial growers pot 

 their plants. 



James Comle^^ said the plants referred to by Mr. Buswell were 

 one year old. Two year old plants would produce better flowers 

 than three year old, but not so many. 



Edward S. Rand, Jr., said that he had been quite successful in 

 forcing roses, and that his method was very simple. He had a 

 row of Gen. Jacqueminot growing in the open ground, which at 

 Thanksgiving were taken up and put in his rhododendron cellar, 

 which is kept just below freezing. At Christmas they were brought 

 into the camellia house, and gradually to the warmest end of the 

 rose bed. The plants were now in full bloom ; he had had fifteen 

 flowers on one plant ; on larger plants he would get more bloom 

 but not better. The plants were now two years old. After forcing 

 he intended to take them up and plant out. He thought this the 

 best way, though Mr. Hovey 's might make better exhibition plants. 



Dr. G. F. Waters said that the treatment of roses proposed is 

 on the natural order. Success is due to close observation of na- 

 ture. He had endeavored to set forth the natural method of for- 

 warding the growth of plants. We must make our steps gradual, 

 and, though we might make very little perceptible change, con- 

 tinued improvement would eventually give us a perfect plant. 

 The plant of this year is not the plant of last year, but we have a 

 new system built on the system of the previous year, just as in the 

 development of a coral reef the polyps on the top are new individ- 

 uals. 



Mr. Hovey said that the great interest of these discussions is in 

 the development of the principles on which horticultural operations 

 are based. The Germans, who understand the principles of forc- 

 ing, always have three houses for the purpose ; the first kept at 

 nearly freezing temperature, say 34° to 40° ; the second interme- 

 diate, from 45° to 55°; and the third warmer, from 60° to 75°. 



