The Double Yellow Rose. 233 



In some parts of Italy perfect flowers are produced with so much certainty that 

 it is cultivated as a market plant, and it is often met with in the markets in various 

 parts of France. 



I think one thing is tolerably clear ; our climate generally is not suited for its 

 cultivation, and this presents a difficulty not easily overcome. Locality is evidently 

 of vast importance, and a locality with a pure dry atmosphere is preferable to any 

 other. In dry mild seasons it has flowered in its favourite haunts in England better 

 than at other times ; and then in places where in less favourable seasons it would 

 never flower. I have never heard of its flowering near London or in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of any large manufacturing town. There we may plant it, but no one 

 can say whether it will ever produce perfect blossoms or not. The fact of its doing 

 so is an anomaly rather the exception than the rule. Notwithstanding this, its 

 beauty when perfect tempts many to cultivate it ; and let us consider the most 

 reasonable means of obtaining success. 



I believe one point has been too much overlooked both by cultivators and writers 

 on this subject the general health of the plant. Let the cultivator procure, in the 

 first instance, a healthy and vigorous plant, and, if possible, keep it in a healthy 

 condition. It must be borne in mind, however, that it is possible to produce an 

 overgrowth ; a moderate course is best Do not tempt it to grow too exuberantly, 

 nor suffer it to dwindle, producing shoots resembling weak straws. Half the plants 

 which I have seen have been in this latter condition, unhealthy, debilitated, literally 

 starved, and often swarming with insects. Can such be expected to develop perfect 

 flowers? This state of things may answer (barring the insects), applied to some 

 varieties whose flowers are too full to expand under ordinary circumstances ; indeed 

 it does answer, but it will not do so in this instance. I would advise all who desire 

 to cultivate the Double Yellow Rose to plant it on a border with an eastern or 

 western aspect ; not training it to a wall but growing it as a round bush. Let the 

 locality be airy, the soil rather heavy, and tolerably rich. So soon as the buds break 

 set a watch over the plant to keep it free from the insects which almost invariably 

 infest it, and which may be done by brushing them off into the hand or syringing 

 with tobacco-water. When the flower-buds are forming have an eye to their growth ; 

 if weakly, or seeming likely to become so, water the plant twice or thrice a week with 

 a solution of guano, using about two ounces to a gallon of pond or rain-water. As 

 soon as the flowering season is past remove some of the shoots if they have been 

 produced in such number as to crowd each other, when those suffered to remain will 

 become thoroughly matured by fuller exposure to sun and air. By this procedure 

 one grand point is gained the formation of wood in the most favourable condition 

 for the production of perfect flowers. In March the plant may be pruned, but very 

 little ; on the weak shoots five or six eyes should be left, on the strong ones from 

 six to nine eyes. 



