196 THE ROSE. 



are not very double will give more pollen 

 and be better seed-bearers than the very full 

 ones. Kinds like Bon Silene, Safrano, 

 Fisher Holmes, Jean Cherpin, etc., will be 

 found the most suitable for first experiments. 

 If the operation is carried on out of doors, it 

 is desirable to cover the flowers fertilized 

 with fine gauze, to prevent the interference 

 of insects. The insects are not apt to go to 

 flowers from which the petals have been re- 

 moved, but it is well not to depend on this. 

 The heps should not be gathered until fully 

 ripe, say after the first frost in October; 

 they are then labelled and buried in pots of 

 moist sand. The pots must be covered with 

 glass or something of the kind to keep out 

 mice, which are very fond of the pods. I 

 allow the pods to remain in the sand till the 

 first of January, they are then broken open, 

 the seed taken out, and sown in boxes or 

 pots. The seeds commence coming up three 

 or four weeks after being planted. The 

 seedlings appear with two leaves; so soon 

 as they make a second growth they are 

 pricked out by a knife blade and planted in 

 small pots. They are very subject to mil- 

 dew, and many are apt to pass away from 

 this cause. In May they can be transplanted 

 and put in open ground, in rich, well-drained 



