On Tea-Scented Roses. 181 



The house was finished the first week in June. Before planting, the natural soil 

 was loosened two spit deep, and the beds afterwards filled to the top of the brickwork 

 with a prepared compost of turfy loam, decayed manure, and washed road-sand. 

 Early in July, when the newly placed earth had become solid, I planted all the really 

 valuable varieties of Tea-scented Roses, and among them a few high-coloured Hybrid 

 Perpetuals and Bourbons to increase the variety. The kinds of climbing habit were 

 placed against the walls, with the view of training them up the rafters in the way of 

 vines ; in the centre bed, under the ridge, were planted the robust growers, that they 

 might rise to the top and spread along the ridge ; the dwarf and moderate growing 

 kinds were, lastly, planted next the walks with the view of fashioning them into 

 pyramids. When all were planted, the earth, which had become rather dry, was 

 thoroughly soaked with water. 



It was with me a leading idea to preserve the temperature of the house similar to 

 that out of doors. But as the sun had more power and the wind less, and as dew 

 was altogether excluded here, I endeavoured to neutralise the excess of sun-power, 

 and to realise the advantages of the other natural aids to growth by admitting 

 abundance of air, by frequent syringings and occasional waterings on the floor of the 

 house. As the plants were in a growing state when planted out, the growth con- 

 tinued unchecked ; the flowers were sufficiently plentiful till the end of November, 

 when the plants were brought to a state of rest by withholding moisture from the air 

 and soil. Early in February the plants were cut in rather close, and the surface of 

 the soil was stirred with a hand-fork, the lights being left open night and day, except 

 in frosty weather, till the beginning of March. By this time the leaf-buds had begun 

 to break, when less air was admitted, and frequent syringings resorted to. The green- 

 fly was kept in check by the combustion of tobacco-paper. On the first appearance 

 of mildew the plants were dusted all over with sulphur immediately after syringing, 

 and this dusting was repeated at brief intervals throughout the year. With May the 

 blooming season arrived. So vigorous had been the growth that some shoots reached 

 the top of the house the first year, and now completely overarched the walks. To 

 look up at them from beneath was a delight as new as it was pleasurable. Large 

 handsome flowers, supported by a profusion of beautiful green leaves, hung drooping 

 as if to meet the eye, which might range at pleasure from their circumference to their 

 very centre, while the air was laden with their delicious perfume. Never before had 

 I really seen Tea Roses. I had often looked at them as they hung drooping from the 

 bushes out of doors, and raised the flowers individually to trace their outline and 

 varied colours, but this conveys no idea of the effect produced by masses of these 

 lovely flowers so disposed that all their beauty is seen and comprehended at a glance. 

 Year by year they continued to extend and improve. Every rafter and the ridge of 

 the house were soon covered with the choicest kinds, which were pruned annually on 

 what grape-growers call the " long rod " system. The house, originally without heat, 



