THE AUTUMNAL ROSE GARDEN. 197 



rotten leaves, or old tan, which should be four 

 inches deep on the surface of the mould in the 

 pots, care being taken to place the bottom of each 

 pot on a slate, for reasons before given. I recom- 

 mend the pots to be placed on the surface, rather 

 than to be plunged in the soil, as they then 

 receive the full influence of the sun to their roots. 

 Towards the end of February each plant must be 

 pruned to within six or eight buds of the base of 

 the strong shoots, and to within two or three buds 

 of those that are more weak : it will be as well, 

 however, if the plants have very long shoots, to 

 shorten these one third at the time of potting, 

 as this prevents their being racked by the high 

 winds of November, as before stated in this work. 

 Autumnal pruning will tend to give an earlier 

 bloom ; therefore, one half of the plants may be 

 finally pruned when potted, if this is the object 

 sought for ; the remainder in March, or even late 

 as April ; indeed, this will give the exhibitor a 

 chance of having some plants ready on the im- 

 portant day. In May, if the weather is hot and 

 dry, the plants, although plunged and apparently 

 moist, will require water daily ; and once a week 

 a regular soaking with guano water will ensure a 

 most vigorous growth, and defy all attacks of the 

 aphis or any other little pest, the grub excepted, 

 which must be carefully sought for in all those 

 young leaves on the flower stems which appear 

 glued together. 



O 3 



