378 Notes and Gleanings. 



of hot days, and well watered at the root ; taking care not to saturate the soil, or 

 make it sour through repeated waterings when it is already wet ; and dryness 

 must be equally guarded against, extremes of either being injurious. All flower- 

 buds as they show are to be pinched off between the nails of the finger and 

 thumb, and any strong shoot stopped at the eighth leaf The pots should be 

 occasionally lifted to see that the roots are not coming through ; and, if they are, 

 rub them off before they make any great progress. 



Towards November, the pots should be lifted, and plunged in coal-ashes in a 

 cold pit or frame. The watering, being discontinued after September, is not to be 

 renewed on the removal of the plants to the pit ; but they are to be kept dry, and 

 to have air whenever the external atmosphere is mild, also protection from rain 

 and iVost. 



Early in February, the plants may be taken into the greenhouse, the pots 

 having been previously washed clean, and the drainage made good if defective, 

 as no plant will thrive in a badly-drained soil. The surface of the soil in the 

 pots should also be stirred, and, if green, replaced with fresh. The plants may 

 then be pruned. The pruning of the Chin^. and tea-scented kinds should con- 

 sist in moderately cutting out the very weak shoots, and doing little more than 

 shortening those of moderate growth, so as to form a compact bush. The Bour- 

 bons and perpetuals should be cut in, — the very strong shoots to four, the strong 

 to three, and the moderately strong to two eyes ; and the weak cut clean out, 

 unless a shoot be wanted in a particular place, when a weak shoot may be cut 

 back to one eye. If tall plants are wanted, any of the tea-scented or China 

 varieties that have made good growths may have a neat stick, or stake, placed in 

 the centre of the pot, and the strongest of the shoots tied to it, the others being 

 shortened to different heights ; that tied to the stake to have merely its end taken 

 off. The plants must be placed as near the glass as their growth allows, and 

 between it and them no creepers or other plants must be tolerated. They can- 

 not have too much light; it is easy to shade them when in bloom ; and the posi- 

 tion should be airy. The temperature need not be altered to suit them, as that 

 of a greenhouse is admirably adapted to their requirements. Due regard must 

 be paid to watering them, avoiding extremes either way ; and yet it is as well to 

 let the soil become rather dry, and then afford a good supply, and not driblets, 

 which, if the soil is dry, do not reach the bottom of the pot, or, if it is wet, only 

 serve to saturate it the more. At first, moderate supplies of water will sufllice ; 

 but, when the foliage has become developed, it will be required in abundance. 

 Syringing should be practised morning and evening, except in cold and dull 

 weather, when once a day, and in the morning, will suffice ; and it should be 

 continued until the flower-buds show color. 



After blooming, which will be in June, the plants should be removed from the 

 greenhouse, and must be carried to the potting-bench, and repotted forthwith. 

 If the cultivator does not wish for large plants, he will merely cut back the roots 

 a little, so that the pot will hold a little fresh soil, the old pot being clean-washed, 

 and again used. Varieties of compact growth will, of course, be selected for 

 this purpose, — small plants that do not take up much room ; and the best are 

 the small-growing tea and China roses. The others may have pots nine inches 



