RAISING VARIETIES FROM SEED. 17 



much better on short stems, from two or three 

 feet in height, than on taller stems, as the stem 

 increases in bulk progressively with the head, and 

 the plants wilLthen live and flourish a great many 

 years. 



Raising Varieties from Seed. 



To raise Moss Koses from seed is a most interest- 

 ing employment for the genuine rose amateur; 

 such a pleasing field is open, and so much may 

 yet be done. The following directions will, I 

 hope, assist those who have leisure, perseverance, 

 and love for this charming flower. A plant of the 

 Luxembourg Moss and one of the Celina Moss 

 should be planted against a south wall, close to 

 each other, so that their branches may be mingled. 

 In bright, calm, sunny mornings in June, about 

 ten o'clock, those flowers that are expanded 

 should be examined by pressing the fingers on 

 the anthers ; it will then be found if the pollen 

 be abundant ; if so, a flower of the former should 

 be shaken over the latter; or, what perhaps is 

 better, its flower-stalks should be fastened to the 

 wall, so that the flower will be kept in an erect 

 position ; then cut a flower of the Luxembourg 

 Moss, strip off its petals with a sharp pair of 

 scissors, and place the anthers firmly but gently 

 upon a flower of the Single Crimson, so that the 

 anthers of each are entangled : they will keep it 

 in its position : a stiff breeze will then scarcely 

 c 



