CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 169 



Where it is inconvenient to make the cuttings in the fall or early 

 in the winter, they can be n^ade in the spring ; but in consequence 

 of having to form the callus, they will require a much lighter 

 soil than will afterward be desirable for their growth, and they 

 will also be much later in coming on. This mode of open prop- 

 agation answers very well for some of the smooth-wooded roses of 

 the more robust growing varieties, like the Boursault and Rubifo- 

 lia, but for the delicate Bengals, the best mode is pot propagation. 

 For this purpose we use small pots, filled with equal parts of 

 mould and sand, or peat and sand. About the middle of 

 autumn, cuttings of the same season's growth are taken off with 

 two or three buds, cutting off the leaf from the lower end, and 

 cutting off the wood smooth and square close to the eye. These 

 cuttings can be inserted in the pot, leaving one eye above the sur- 

 face. It should then be slightly watered to settle the soil firmly 

 around the cuttings, and then placed in a cold frame, or on the 

 floor of a vinery in which no fire is kept during winter. Early 

 in the spring the pot shoiiild be plunged in saw-dust or tan over a 

 moderate hot-bed, kept perfectly close, and sprinkled every morn- 

 ing with water a little tepid. Now, as well as during the au- 

 tumn, they should be shaded from the too bright glare of the sun. 

 In about a fortnight, and after they have formed a third set of 

 leaves and good roots, a little air can be given them : and after 

 being thus hardened for a week, they can be repotted into larger 

 pots. In order to ascertairi when they are sufliciently rooted, the 

 ball of earth can be taken out of the pot, by striking its inverted 

 edge lightly against some body ; at the same time sustaining the 

 inside by the hand, the cutting being passed between two of the 

 fingers a little separated. If well rooted, the fibres will be seen 

 on the outside of the ball of earth. They can then be placed in 

 a cold frame, or anywhere under glass, to be planted out the lat- 

 ter part of spring, or retained for pot culture. Where hot-bed 

 frames are not convenient, or the amateur wishes only to exper- 

 iment with one or two cuttings, he can use a tumbler, or any 

 kind of close glass covering. 



Bottom heat is quite an important aid in propagation by cut- 



15 



