154 FAST LIFE AMONG THE ROSES. 



they can ; but they often remain in a debilitated condition 

 for a long time after having been raised by this extreme 

 forcing process, and there is danger of the reduced vigour 

 becoming fixed or chronic. If by skilful and natural 

 cultivation the vigour of a rose can be increased and 

 maintained (witness Climbing Aimee Vibert and Climbing 

 Devoniensis), surely it is probable that the converse is 

 equally true, that by unnatural and unskilful cultivation 

 the vigour may be diminished and lost. Most practical 

 horticulturists must, I think, have met with instances of 

 both amongst the various classes of plants to which they 

 may have given special attention. 



My object in penning the original sentence was to 

 enter a quiet protest against a practice which I should be 

 glad to see discouraged and discontinued. 



F 



EOSES AND EOSE SHOWING 



[From " The Florist? 1869,^. 173.] 



ROM many parts of England letters have reached me 

 conveying the unsatisfactory intelligence that the 

 first bloom of Roses has been indifferent. Aphis and 

 mildew, with buds sealed, dingy in colour, and falling un- 

 expanded, were doubtless very prevalent features in the 

 summer bloom of 1869. But to all who may have ex- 

 perienced these disappointing results I would say take 

 courage. Wash your plants to destroy the insects, dust 

 with sulphur to check the spread of mildew, water if dry, 

 cut off all remnants of passed and passing flowers, and 

 bide your time. I have often seen an indifferent summer 

 bloom followed by a magnificent display in autumn ; and 

 if the present and next month prove favourable there is 

 good reason to expect such a result this year. 



But while the summer bloom of Roses has been gene- 



