HYBRID ROSES, OLD AND NEW. 151 



Forestier, pale yellow, fine and fragrant ; and Mme. Caroline 

 Kuster, globular flower, pale yellow, free. Mar^chal Nlel can be 

 used as a climber or pillar rose, and laid down in the autumn to 

 be covered with soil, as is done with raspberrj' plants ; it will 

 then withstand the winter, and if cut back slightly in the spring 

 will produce a good crop of rich golden yellow flowers the follow- 

 ing summer. 



Having selected our varieties and properly planted them in the 

 fall, drawn the soil nicely about the plants from eight to twelve 

 inches, and heaped above this either manure or spent hops ; as 

 early in April as the ground is dry enough to work freely, level 

 off the soil in the rows, covering the manure under as much as 

 possible, if it was put on in the fall. In a few days, when the 

 buds have swelled suflSclently to show their condition, the plant 

 should be cut back to the plumpest bud, cutting in the weakest 

 growers to within four or six buds above the ground, particularly 

 if growing for exhibition purposes ; if large blooms are not 

 required the shoots can be left longer ; the strong growers must 

 be left as long as sound buds and wood will permit. Intersecting 

 shoots should also be cut out so as to leave the centre of the 

 plant with a free exposure to the air and sun, for it is among these 

 short stems that the red spider and other pests harbor in the sum- 

 mer. Another important point for exhibitors to remember, a few 

 weeks later in the season, is that for growing large flowers, a cer- 

 tain amount of disbudding must be practised. Around the central 

 flower bud, will be noticed two or three smaller buds, which must' 

 be removed to throw the entire strength into the central bud ; 

 then if properly cultivated the single stem will carry a splendid 

 flower. Several applications of liquid manure not too strong 

 (about the color of weak tea), to the root of the plant a few weeks 

 before the bud opens, will have an invigorating effect upon the 

 flower. This application should be made again after the first crop 

 is over, to give increased strength to the autumn bloom. But we 

 cannot have good blooms without fine foliage and this can only be 

 secured by earl}- and constant attention. As soon as two or 

 three leaves are formed in the spring, we must dust or sprinkle 

 them with hellebore, and watch for the worm that ties the tender 

 leaves together, to destroy him, for he will soon be ready to nip 

 the delicate bud. He is easily found by a little attention at the 



