ROSES. 53 



to keep the house, after the roses i\\\' planted, in good condition 

 as long as they are in it. which nu'ans all the year round. This is 

 more important than many suppose, as no plant can reasonably be 

 expected to thrive where dirt, mud, and decaying vegetable matter 

 are allowed to lie unmoli'sted for weeks or months together. 



Lastly, we come to the watering and general care of the plants. 

 Ou the subject of watering there is a wide diversity' of opinion, 

 mainly brought about by the different conditions of soil. The 

 only safe guide is a careful study of the nature of the soil one has 

 to deal with, using Avater in proportion' to its requirements. As a 

 general rule, a rose in full growth should never be allowed to- 

 become dust drj', neither should the soil be flooded with water till 

 it becomes almost of the nature of mud, but for nearlj' all soils it is 

 lietter to water the plants immediately when the soil shows the 

 least indication of getting solid or turning slightly light in color. 



For the general care and management I am afraid I should tire 

 you all out if I even attempted to describe it in detail, Init even if 

 I did not do that I think it entirely unnecessary here — as much so 

 as it would be for a stranger to go to Rome and tell the Romans 

 what to do ; but in conclusion permit me to say that although I 

 firmly believe that in the past twenty years gi'eater strides have 

 been made in the cultivation of the rose than was ever done in 

 double that .time previously, yet I certainly think that much 

 greater advancement will be made in the next ten years than 

 has been done in the past twenty. Evidence of this is ver}^ clear 

 to au}^ one visiting the different parts of this country, and I trust 

 that after we have all passed away the "Queen of Flowers" will 

 still have as great a charm for our successors as she has for us. 

 Long may she reign supreme, and this hospitable city remain the 

 seat of her throne, to which pilgrims will ever come from all over 

 this broad land to do homage to her majesty in all her golden, 

 glory ! 



Discussion. 



Michael H. Norton asked whether Mr. 3Iay found a read}' sale 

 for his roses, and for what class. There is no difficulty here irt 

 selling first-class roses. 



^Iv. Maj' replied that there is no difficult}' in disposing of such 

 roses as those on the table, though you cannot always get the best 

 prices for them. There is no question that roses and other flowers' 



