188 THE EOSE. 



apt to go to flowers from which the petals have 

 been removed, but it is well not to depend on 

 this. The heps should not be gathered until 

 fully ripe, say after the first frost in October ; 

 they are then labelled and buried in pots of moist 

 sand. The pots must be covered with glass or 

 something of the kind to keep out mice, which are 

 very fond of the pods. I allow the pods to re- 

 main in the sand till the first of January, they 

 are then broken open, the seed taken out, and 

 sown in boxes or pots. The seeds commence 

 coming up three or four weeks after being plant- 

 ed. The seedlings appear with two leaves ; so 

 soon as they make a second growth they are 

 pricked out by a knife blade and planted in 

 small pots. They are very subject to mildew, 

 and many are apt to pass away from this cause. 

 In May they can be transplanted and put in open 

 ground, in rich, well-drained soil. If they do 

 well they can be left there over winter, of course 

 being protected, and allowed to remain for test- 

 ing. They commence to flower the second year, 

 but many of them show no signs of bloom until 

 the third or fourth year. Instead of planting 

 them out in open ground, some or all can remain 



