A Rose in t/ir. Wi7idow. 2fil 



ress. It was a most wonderful rose. A prim old maid, Miss Wilky 

 by name, importuned and pestered us oft and at various times for 

 " Blips." For her sake our favorite was shorn somewhat of its most 

 aspiring twigs. Miss Wilky gave us her benediction and we 

 gave her " slips ;" but it was of no avail, no majestic riotious rose 

 branches cast their shadows on her window bench. She had the 

 rose twigs and we maintained our secret of success inviolable, 

 but not for all time. Miss Wilky again waylaid us, she had 

 ascertained by some necromancy that the volume, compactness 

 and symmetrical shape of our rose-bush was owing to a peculiar 

 treatment, which information we had kept sub-Rosa. Now Miss 

 Wilky possessed an insinuating address and a speech of much 

 sweetness. And thus it was we parted the secret of rose culture 

 in earthen pots : — 



Said we, " procure from the woods a proportion of leaf mould, 

 which may be subsequently dried, pulverized, and sifted — to which 

 should be added an equal portion of burnt sod. Animal manure 

 well rotted, is the next best ingredient — provide of this a similar 

 quantity, season all, and thoroughly incorporate with the mass, a 

 small contribution of yellow sand loam, — it makes the compost 

 friable and facilitates drainage. Now you have the soil. The 

 roses best adapted to pot culture, are Teas, Bourbons, and Noi- 

 settes. We do not include the hybrid perpetuals, their season of 

 bloom being doubtful, intermittant. Devoniensis, ( Tea), is a su- 

 perb, free blooming, white rose ; extravagantly large and emits a 

 delicious fragrance. Souvenir de la mat Maison, (Bourbon), is also 

 a large rose of a delicate flesh color. It has a good habit, is a 

 profuse bloomer, and requires a large pot to attain its perfection. 

 In choosing roses for pot culture, care should be observed to select 

 those possessing a vigorous constitution and rampant growers. 

 A rose to bloom well during the winter months, must be permitted 

 rest during the previous summer — placed in a cool shaded situa- 

 tion will secure the object. In September, the plants designed for 

 the window should be cut down and re-potted in the compost pre- 

 viously described ; after which, place them in a cold frame for a 

 few weeks, admitting air during the day and keep close at night. 

 The plants will immediately commence growing, and by the first 

 of October, wnll show flower buds which should be carefully 

 pinched off. Such stems as show an inclination to outgrow their 



