n6 THE ROSE. 



plants from becoming dry, is all that is 

 necessary. 



In about three weeks, the plants, if prop- 

 erly treated, will be ready to shift into four 

 or five-inch pots. The same care used in the 

 first potting must be observed in this. By 

 watering the plants an hour or so before 

 shifting, they will leave the pot with a ball 

 of earth, and thus but slight check or disturb- 

 ance is given to the growth of the plants. 

 The pots should always be filled to the 

 amount of one-fourth or one-fifth their depth 

 with broken pieces of pots, or similar sub- 

 stances, in order to secure perfect drainage. 

 After four or five weeks' growth the plants 

 should be ready for the second shift, when 

 six or seven-inch pots will be needed. The 

 same soil should be used, but with the addi- 

 tion of one shovelful of pure ground bone to 

 every forty shovels of soil ; this must be well 

 mixed. In shifting plants always use clean 

 pots. 



The best time to make cuttings is during 

 the month of January ; if you cannot obtain 

 good cuttings of your own, order young 

 plants from some good grower, to be delivered 

 to you some time in February or March. 

 These plants will probably be from two-and- 

 a-half-inch pots and will be ready for their 



