4-8 Roses for Amateurs. 



a greater certainty ; and this is an important point, as plants 

 in pots are too often water-logged or dust dry, and in either 

 case the Rose suffers. Then, as the plants grow more freely, 

 there is a greater succession of blossom, and, as a rule, the 

 individual flowers are much finer. 



Choice of a^ House. 



If success is to be achieved, there are a few things which 

 it is necessary to recollect, though it is very difficult in 

 keep before one's mind the various sorts of structures which 

 are used. An inexpensive yet thoroughly useful house may 

 be made about i8ft. long, i2ft. wide, and loft, high; and 

 the same plan may be enlarged or diminished according 

 to the wishes or means of the grower. This house ought 

 to contain a central bed with a walk round it, and borders 

 on each side the central bed being about 5ft. wide, the 

 walks occupying 3ft., and the borders being each about 2ft. 

 wide. The roof should either be movable (the better, though 

 the more expensive, plan), or else, while the greater portion 

 of the glass may be glazed permanently, there should be 

 small sashes the full depth of the roof, made either to rise 

 on hinges or else made movable. The object of this is to 

 get thorough ventilation and the wood well ripened, so that 

 mildew may be, as far as possible, prevented, and the success 

 of the following year assured. There should also be a door 

 at each end. The pitch of the roof should be good, and 

 it should be brought down to about 2ft. at the sides. We 

 have said nothing so far about heating, because we do not 

 believe it to be necessary, although a single 4in. pipe would 

 give the plants an advantage in frosty weather. Where the 

 house is unheated, it will be well to cover the roof with 

 mats, as it is advisable to avoid, if possible, the extremes of 

 heat and cold. Houses suited to Rose cultivation are 

 stocked by numbers of firms making glass structures a 

 speciality. 



