148 BEDDING ROSES. 



and March. If plants on their own roots be preferred, 

 buy them in spring, and grow them in pots the first year 

 plunged in an open situation in the garden, attending to 

 watering, and keeping them free from insects; protect 

 them slightly in winter, and plant them out in May. 

 Water carefully when the soil is dry until the roots have 

 taken firm hold of the ground, and for five months in the 

 year the beds will be flushed with blossoms. On the 

 approach of winter a slight protection will again be 

 necessary, especially for the Chinese and Tea-Scented 

 kinds. Branches of any evergreen tree or the haulm of 

 asparagus stuck pretty freely among the plants, but not 

 so thickly as to prevent the circulation of air and en- 

 courage an excess of moisture, are the readiest means, 

 and sufficient to accomplish this. Late in February one- 

 half, and in April the remaining half of these branches 

 may be removed preparatory to pruning. The varieties 

 of dwarf growth may be pruned very closely ; if on their 

 own roots they may be cut down nearly level with the 

 ground, when they will push up from beneath with a 

 surprising strength, and produce immense trusses of 

 flowers. The moderate growers should be pruned less 

 closely, and the free or vigorous growers least of all. 

 With the latter, when the growth is very free, it is some- 

 times desirable to bring a given number of the strong 

 branches into a horizontal position to cover the beds and 

 increase the quantity of flowers. On this point, as on 

 many others, practice is the best and safest instructor. 



Bedding Roses are yearly in greater demand, and we 

 often experience the difficulty of the limited number of suit- 

 able varieties. " I want a series of beds of Roses on my 

 lawn," says Mr A, " but the sorts must be of hardy constitu- 

 tion and of compact growth ; they must flower freely and 

 continuously, and have at least some fragrance." Desirable 

 qualities, no doubt, but qualities still hard to find com- 

 bined in all shades of colour. Notwithstanding, we have 

 some kinds of this character, and there is no reason why 



