122 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



for the summer, and in autumn they may be introduced to the greenhouse. 

 Pits with a southern aspect will grow Roses quite as well as a greenhouse ; 

 in fact, they would be better if it is necessary to have other plants too. 

 Give a top dressing the first year, not repotting. This is accomplished by 

 scraping away about an inch of the surface soil ; scatter a tablespooriful 

 of guano on the soil, and replace the soil removed with some fresh loam. 

 If a Marechal Niel or other climbing Eose is desired to grow on the 

 wall or roof of the greenhouse, either plant it in a large pot or tub, 

 unless a small border can be prepared for it, as advised under heading of 

 " Marechal Niel under Glass." If in pot or tub, give plenty of drainage, 

 and raise it upon two or three bricks, so that water can pass away freely 

 and also air enter the soil. 



Climbing plants known as " extra sized " in eight-inch pots are the 

 best to secure. For very small houses it would pay the grower to renew 

 the plants annually, for the nurseryman has better facilities of growing 

 this class of Eose correctly. When purchased no pruning is necessary ; 

 save the extreme ends of the growths, for the stems should be well 

 ripened and in condition to produce a number of fine flowers the fol- 

 lowing spring. Unless these climbing Eoses, especially Marechal Niel, 

 can be made to yield new and strong annual growths they soon de- 

 teriorate, hence the advice to purchase annually, for they can be secured 

 for two or three shillings, and the flowers they yield would realise more 

 than this at wholesale prices. 



Potting Roses. Eoses forced in strong heat should be repotted in 

 July, and those grown in cool house in September. The pots and crocks 

 should be clean and pot firm ; the soil must not be too wet or too dry. 

 Give ample drainage, and do not sift the soil, as Eoses like the little 

 lumps of loam. The best compost consists of three-parts loam, that 

 which has been stacked twelve months, if one can obtain it ; one-part 

 one-year-old cow manure ; and either a six-inch potful of guano or the 

 same of steamed bone-meal. When about to pot, turn out the plant, 

 lay the ball on its side, and remove the crocks. Then with a pointed 

 stick go all over the ball of earth, and gently prod it. This releases 

 the roots, and some of the soil at the same time. Then take the mass 

 in both hands, and shake gently. Place it carefully in the centre of 

 the pot, and fill up with compost, ramming this hard in. The pots 

 must not be filled too full, merely to the rim. Place the plants on a 

 bed of ashes when potted, and keep them here until wanted, unless 

 frosts or heavy rains intervene. 



Pillar Roses. For many varieties of Eoses the columnar, or pillar 

 form, is the most natural as well as the most attractive. A pillar, 

 say of Crimson Eambler, well isolated upon the lawn, its fine growths 

 darting out here and there to relieve the pillar of formality, is, when 

 aglow with its crimson panicles of blossom, a gorgeous picture. By 

 selecting the freest growers, and placing the pillars some twelve to 

 twenty feet apart, and connecting each by chains hung loosely, a pretty 

 effect is produced when the growths are sufficiently developed to drape 

 the chains with blossom. For this purpose, what are known as run- 

 ning Eoses, are only suitable. Here the new Wichuriana will prove 



