CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 163 



place the pots on slates to prevent their roots striking into the 

 ground. With the Remontant or Perpetuals, even if only potted 

 in November previous, a very good crop of flowers may often be 

 obtained, and a second crop better than the first ; for the great 

 advantage of forcing Remontant roses is, that after blooming in 

 the green-house or drawing-room, their young shoots may be cut 

 down to witnin two or three buds of their base, and the plants 

 placed again in the forcing-house, and a second crop of flowers 

 obtained. The same mode may be followed also with the Bour- 

 bon, China, and Tea-scented roses ; with the latter, indeed, a 

 third crop may be often obtained. Toward the end of March, 

 when the second crop of flowers is coming on, the plants may be 

 gradually inured to the air, by opening the sashes in mild 

 weather. This will make them hardy and robust. Syringing 

 should be practised every morning and evening ; but when the 

 flower-buds are ready to open, this must be confined to the stems 

 of the plants and the pots, otherwise the flowers will be injured 

 by the moisture. Air must at first only be given about noon ; 

 care must be taken to remove the plants from the forcing-house 

 to the green-house or drawing-room before their blossoms expand ; 

 they may then be kept in beauty many days. We have not found 

 the check which the plants receive by this sudden change of tem- 

 perature at all detrimental. During their second growth, the 

 plants should be watered once a week with manure-water, and 

 the surface of the pot occasionally stirred. Two pounds of guano 

 to ten gallons of water, forms the very best species of liquid ma- 

 nure ; this should be stirred before it .is used. 



"Those that are forced with the greatest facility are worked 

 roses ; these seldom or never fail to give an abundant crop of 

 flowers. Stems from six inches to one and a half and two feet 

 are equally eligible ; the latter form elegant plants, and I think 

 generally grow with greater luxuriance than dwarfs. China and 

 Tea-scented roses on their own roots are more delicate, and re- 

 quire more care ; still one crop of flowers may always be de- 

 pended upon, even from them. Instead of forcing them for a sec- 

 ond crop, it will be better to place them in the green-house ; they 



