76 TEA-SCENTED ROSES AS CONSERVATORY CLIMBERS. 



varying characters of the floral races. Beautiful in their 

 irregularity, distinct in their properties, unique in appear- 

 ance, we confess that we admire them above all others, 

 and that their charms for us would depart were they aught 

 else than what they are. As well might we complain of 

 the diversified surface of the landscape, as of the graceful 

 irregularities in this charming group of Roses. 



It has been said that the objections of minds flori- 

 culturally schooled has done something to render them 

 unpopular, but there is another cause existing in their 

 delicacy and susceptibility of frost. It is not intended 

 here to dwell upon their culture in the open air, though I 

 have proved by experiment that they may be grown 

 successfully, and with little trouble, in this manner. We 

 will, for the present, dismiss this point. I intend here to 

 confine my remarks to their cultivation as climbers for the 

 conservatory. 



But am I at the outset met with the response " We 

 have abundance of such plants." Then I rejoin " Is not 

 the variety these will afford, combined with a delightful 

 fragrance, a sufficient plea for their introduction ? " 



Then of their cultivation. We will suppose plants 

 intended for this purpose to be purchased in the spring. 

 They are perhaps in small pots, therefore unless the situa- 

 tion be freely exposed to air and light they should be 

 shifted into larger pots, using a compost of leaf mould and 

 loam, and cultivated with care during the first summer. 

 In the spring following they will be strong and well rooted, 

 and may be planted out in prepared soil loam and leaf 

 mould as before. They may be pruned rather closely, and 

 watered with weak liquid manure as they become dry, and 

 the growing shoots trained with care according as they are 

 wanted to clothe round pillars or trellis-work. 



They will probably rise from two to three feet the 

 first year ; and as they become evergreen under this 

 treatment they will grow and flower almost incessantly, 

 even in the depth of winter, if suffered to do so. But as a 



