RAISING NEW VARIETIES. 197 



soil. If they do well they can be left there 

 over winter, of course being protected, and 

 allowed to remain for testing. They com- 

 mence to flower the second year, but many 

 of them show no signs of bloom until the 

 third or fourth year. Instead of planting 

 them out in open ground, some or all can re- 

 main in pots, the plants being shifted from 

 time to time to pots of a larger size. One is 

 apt to become very impatient waiting for the 

 seedlings to flower; the result can be hast- 

 ened by taking buds from them and inserting 

 on some stock of good growth. Many of 

 the seedlings will produce flowers quite 

 single ; these plants are to be at once rooted 

 out. Now and then we may find double 

 flowers of good finish ; these are to be com- 

 pared with flowers of old varieties, which 

 they seem most to resemble, to ascertain 

 whether they are distinct sorts or only in- 

 ferior imitations of established favorites. 

 It will often require considerable moral cour- 

 age to refrain from calling our geese, swans. 

 But if it is found, and admitted by general 

 consent, that we have originated something 

 both beautiful and distinct, ah, what pride 

 and satisfaction do we feel! Surely, there 

 can be no more pleasing occupation for those 

 who love and grow roses, than by hybridiz- 



