ROSES THAT BLOOM IN JUNE. 77 



as are of the finest form, very prolific, and possessing 

 a good habit, should be reserved for culture. Our 

 climate is so favourable to the maturing of seed that 

 there is no reason why we should not only equal, but 

 surpass, any European country in the cultivation of 

 this "Queen of Flowers." 



The blooming of seedlings can be readily hastened 

 where time and convenience will admit. As soon as 

 the young plants have made three or four leaves, lift 

 them very carefully from the seed-bed with a trans- 

 planting trowel, and put them in pots of rich light 

 earth j then place them in the shade and give a gentle 

 watering and sprinkling over the leaves for a few 

 weeks, when they may be planted into the ground to 

 remain. 1 have in this w^ay grown plants eighteen 

 inches high the first season. They will, by this 

 method, generally bloom the third year. The seeds 

 are covered with a thick tough shell, which, if allowed 

 to get perfectly dry, and kept in that state for a con- 

 siderable period, will take two years to germinate, and 

 perhaps not grow at all. Regular moisture appears to 

 be indispensable for keeping the shell soft and exciting 

 the embryo plant into growth. The seeds are on this 

 account providentially furnished with a fleshy pericarp 

 y (hip) to prevent their becoming too dry for germina- 

 tion, while nearly all other seeds do not germinate 

 well unless dried before sowing. 



