74 ROSES THAT BLOOM IX JUNE. 



heavy soils) well incorporated with it, twelve to 

 eighteen inches deep, is all that is required. 



GROWING ROSES FROM SEED. 



To the amateur this opens a field of very in- 

 teresting amusement; it gives an object with which 

 to fill up profitably every leisure moment, in im- 

 pregnating, saving the seed, sowing and watching 

 every movement of the plant till it develops its 

 beauties of inflorescence, which, if it prove of new 

 character, is an ample compensation for the time 

 spent upon the process ; if not worthy, it is at least 

 a good stock to be used in budding or grafting 

 upon, and even then causes no loss. In the centre 

 of many roses there is a number of thready fila- 

 ments surmounted by what botanists term anthers ; 

 these are small oval forms which, when ripe, con- 

 tain a quantity of pollen or yellow dust, which can 

 easily be perceived between the finger and the 

 thumb after giving them a gentle pressure. This 

 pollen, though to the naked eye a fine powder, and 

 light enough to be wafted along by the 'air, is very 

 curiously formed, and varies very much in different 



