142 The Rose Garden. 



have set our mind. Fig. 38 is a fair representation of a Pot Rose five years old 

 in bloom. 



Roses are often lifted from the ground to be grown in pots, and it is necessary 

 to say a few words about them. Early in Autumn (October) is a good time to 

 take them up, and if done immediately after rain the roots are less liable to be 

 injured in the removal. When potting, whether the plants are on their own roots or 

 on stems, the straggling roots should be cut in so far as to admit of their being 

 placed comfortably in the pots. If any of the roots have been bruised in taking up, 

 the bruised part should be cut away ; let the cut be made clean with a knife, and 

 fibrous roots will soon be emitted from its surface. When potting worked plants we 

 should have an eye to suckers from the wild stock, which should be cut off close to 

 the stem to prevent their springing into life at any future period. The sized pots 

 most suitable for dwarf plants from the ground vary from Nos. 32 to 12 ; if a plant 

 is of robust growth, strong, and well-rooted, it may be placed in the latter size ; if the 

 reverse, use the former. In reference to this the judgment at the time of potting is 

 the best guide. Placing the plants too low in the soil is a great evil ; always keep the 

 roots near to the surface, as they are sure to strike downwards. 



It is essential here that the pots be thoroughly drained, and the soil should be 

 well shaken down among and firmly pressed upon the roots. The heads may be 

 thinned out at the time of potting, leaving as many shoots as can be found properly 

 situated to form handsome plants. The shortening of the shoots may be deferred till 

 the plants are supposed to have made fresh roots, remembering, however, that the 

 time of pruning regulates the time of blooming ; the earlier they are pruned the earlier 

 they will flower. 



After potting, the plants should be placed in a cold pit, where they may remain 

 almost closed from the air for a few days. They should be syringed twice or three 

 times daily, and shaded also if weather is sunny. If taken up in October, when the leaf 

 is green, and kept in a close pit, well syringed and shaded, they will retain some of their 

 leaves almost as fresh as if left in the ground, and soon renew their hold of the soil. 



It is not necessary that they should remain in a pit for any great length of time. 

 After the first ten days or fortnight more air may be admitted gradually, and in a 

 month the hardy kinds may be plunged out of doors in an airy situation ; the tender 

 ones may be kept in the pit, or be placed by themselves where sheltered from severe 

 frosts. The north side of a wall or fence will serve for this purpose, erecting a tem- 

 porary building, open on three sides, the top covered with felt or fern, or anything 

 else that will exclude the rain and frost ; the sides may then be closed in with mats 

 in severe weather. 



A few remarks on Roses grown in pots as climbers may not be altogether useless. 

 If it be the wish of the cultivator to train a few upon this system they should be 

 invariably chosen on their own roots. But perhaps it may seem strange that we 



