Culture of Roses in Pots, and Forcing. 53 



Japanese honeysuckle, twining up the stem. There is a glass rod in the 

 centre, to which are attached three light glass chains ; and the glass dish 

 supporting the rod is placed upon a silvered glass plateau, encircled with 

 crystal beads. 



The use of glass, in many graceful forms, produces effects far better than 

 those produced by metal. If silver light is needed, the required effect 

 may be given by employing silvered glass. Ferns and the larger lycopo- 

 dia are very useful in table decoration ; and the maiden-hair fern (adian- 

 tum) is peculiarly adapted to this purpose. 



AVe have seen a very effective table decoration in the form of a circular 

 glass dish, about fifteen inches in diameter, from the centre of which 

 springs a silvered glass rod about an inch thick and eighteen inches high, 

 supporting another flat, round glass dish about half as large as the lower 

 one. These glasses, filled with delicate flowers and ferns, with a graceful 

 vine twined round the central stalk, make by far the prettiest table deco- 

 rations we have seen. 



Adapted from English '•''Journal of Horticulture^'' 



CULTURE OF ROSES IN POTS, AND FORCING. 



The best roses for forcing are those which have been established a 

 year in pots, particularly if required to bloom early, — say in January. I 

 shall presume that the plants for early bloom have been obtained in May. 

 They should be shifted from the small pots in which they are usually 

 received into pots six inches in diameter, draining these to one-fourth 

 their depth with broken pots, with a little of the rougher parts of the 

 compost over the drainage. I have found no better compost for pot 

 roses than that formed of turf from a pasture the soil of which is rather 

 strong hazel or yellow loam. The turf — having been pared off two inches 

 thick, and laid up in alternate layers with sheep-droppings, or, where the 

 latter cannot be procured, with horse-droppings instead — should be allowed 

 to lie six months, and then be turned, and, in three more, again turned. 

 At the end of twelve months, an excellent compost will be the result. 

 Previous to use, it should be chopped with a spade, and made somewhat 



