December Making Plans 



Roses from Seed. New Roses are commonly ob- 

 tained from seed saved from flowers that were cross- 

 fertilised by artificial means. For this purpose Roses 

 are usually grown in the greenhouse ; the flowers then 

 open early and the seeds become thoroughly ripened. 

 Seeds from fruits that have ripened on Roses out of 

 doors are not so reliable as those obtained from plants 

 grown under glass; nevertheless it is possible to raise 

 seedlings from some of them, and amateurs will find the 

 work full of interest. Seedlings, even from the same pod 

 of seed, show extraordinary variation, and there is 

 always the chance that one may obtain a really good 

 new Rose. Rose growing from seed is not very easy. 

 The pods are gathered, each with a piece of stalk 

 attached, and are at once placed in pots of moist sand, 

 the stalk being embedded to its full depth. Small flower- 

 pots are prepared by being drained with a few crocks 

 covered with moss, and filled with sifted sandy loam. 

 The pods are broken and the seeds are sown at once, 

 about \ an inch deep ; the soil is moistened by placing 

 the pots in a bowl of water and keeping them there 

 until the moisture rises to the surface. The seeds are 

 covered with glass, placed in a greenhouse temperature 

 of 45, and are moistened when necessary. As the seed- 

 lings show through the soil, the glass covering is removed 

 and they are placed in a light position in the greenhouse. 

 Even after the seedlings have appeared the grower is not 

 out of the wood, for, when about 2 inches high the little 

 plants have an unfortunate way of collapsing. The 

 conditions most likely to ensure their steady progress 

 are a regular night temperature of from 50 to 55, very 

 careful watering, and ventilating in such a way that 

 draughts are avoided. 



Pruning the Vine. It is easier to grow Grapes in a 

 vinery devoted solely to their cultivation than to 

 attempt them in a greenhouse that has to accom- 

 modate half - hardy plants during winter. The latter 



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