136 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



the attempt. Roses in pots may be successfully grown in 

 pits or glazed frames. To have fine specimens of Roses in 

 pots, to flower in October or November, there should be a 

 house properly constructed, and a pit to shelter the tenderer 

 kinds in from frosts and heavy rains, and to place the plants 

 in after potting. The best kind of house is a span-roof, 

 with aspects east and west, because then the plants have 

 the benefit of the sun early in the morning and late in 

 the afternoon. The house should be wide enough to 

 allow room for a tolerable platform in the centre, and a 

 narrow one round the sides. The centre platform will serve 

 exceedingly well to hold large plants, and those round the 

 sides will do to place the smaller ones on. It should be 

 high enough to bring the tops of the plants within at least 

 two feet of the glass. Covering the platform with coal ashes 

 or sand, for the pots to stand upon is of great use. If it be 

 thoroughly wetted now and then, it slowly gives out a moisture 

 to the atmosphere of the house, which is very agreeable and 

 healthful to the inmates. 



Soil for Roses in Pots. For the strong-growing varieties 

 three parts strong turfy loam taken from some pasture not 

 more than three inches deep, and one part good hot-bed 

 manure. Chop the loam well up, and mix the manure 

 thoroughly into every part of it ; a small quantity of quick- 

 lime cast in amongst it at the time will be beneficial. For 

 the slender growing varieties, three parts of the same kind of 

 loam, two parts leaf mould, and one part sharp sand, with 

 the lime added as before. 



Potting Roses. The potting season for them all, at what- 

 ever time they are to bloom, is early in April. At the time of 

 potting, the stems below the ground should be examined, 

 and every bud likely to produce a sucker rubbed off close to 

 the stem, as well as the suckers already produced. Drain 

 the pots moderately well, and proportion their size to that of 

 the plants. In potting, prune off any roots that may have 

 been broken or bruised ; then open the roots from each 

 other, and spread them equally on every side amongst the 

 soil, covering the highest layer about one inch, and leaving 

 about half-an-inch below the rim of the pots. After the 

 potting is finished, place the plants in the cold pit, syringe 

 them frequently, and keep them close, shading from bright 



