5 2 Roses for Amateurs. 



bushel of compost), and one portion of coarse sand or road- 

 grit. Other good fertilisers are sold by Bentley, of Hull, 

 and Valroff, of Horselydown, and these should be used as 

 the makers advise. A sprinkling of " Alphol " may also be 

 advantageously employed. Be careful that the pots are well 

 cleaned ; then fill them about one-third with broken pieces 

 of pots; let these also be clean (the little trouble of 

 washing them will not l>e thrown away). The pot Rose 

 should then be taken and turned out of the pot, the 

 outside of the ball rubbed off, and the ball itself gently 

 squeezed so as to loosen the roots. Be careful to put the 

 plant in the centre of the pot, put the earth in round the 

 ball equally, and then press it well in; firm potting is an 

 essential of success in many things, and in nothing more so 

 than in Roses. After potting give the plants a good soaking 

 of water (not a driblet), and then put them into a close frame 

 for a few days, when they should be removed to the green- 

 house, and then pruned on the lines already laid down, the 

 object being to get a compact bush. As a rule, Teas and 

 Hybrid Teas require less pruning than Hybrid Perpetuals. 

 If they are then placed in a house whence frost is excluded 

 (they require nothing more), they will flower in April, and 

 a little later on they may be taken out of doors, and plunged 

 up to the rim in coal ashes, in a sunny spot, where the wood 

 may be thoroughly well ripened. Should larger plants be 

 required, they may at this time be put into larger pots, i6's 

 being a very good size. The plants will remain out of doors 

 all summer, and then may, in autumn, be again brought into 

 the house, to be treated as before. They will, when growing, 

 be benefited by the application of occasional doses of liquid 

 manure (about once a week will be sufficient), for which there 

 is, perhaps, nothing better than guano, loz. to the gallon, 

 and a small portion of soot ; this gives colour to the foliage, 

 and sweetens the soil. Clay's Fertiliser may also be applied 

 with benefit, using it either as a top dressing (a teaspoonful 



