ROSES IN POTS. 159 



experienced and watchful care, and in a kindly atmos- 

 phere. Bear in mind that men will thrive on diet and 

 under discipline that would be fatal to infants, and mature 

 plants of Roses will flourish where young and tender 

 plants would die. 



Let us assume, then, that the cultivator has a suitable 

 house and suitable plants, which he houses unpruned at 

 the beginning of winter. His first act of cultivation is 

 to prune them. If he wants the best of his flowers in 

 March and April he prunes in December, and applies 

 gentle heat early in January. As the days lengthen, the 

 heat may be gradually increased. In sunny weather 

 the syringe should be used freely, especially in the 

 morning. Watering must be regularly attended to, care 

 being taken in the early stages of growth not to water 

 too much ; more water will be required as the leaves 

 increase in size. Smoking must be resorted to on the 

 first appearance of green-fly, and repeated often enough 

 to keep the plants entirely free from these destructive 

 visitants. Mildew must be guarded against. A small 

 pepper-box with finely punctured holes should be kept 

 at hand filled with sulphur, and this should be dusted 

 freely on the leaves whenever the mildew is seen. A light 

 shading should be provided, to be used as soon as 

 the buds show colour. When the flowering is over, the 

 plants should be rested by lowering the temperature of 

 the house and by withholding water. In about a month 

 growth will recommence with the advancing temperature 

 of the year, when water must be again given, and the 

 same routine of culture pursued ; a second flowering 

 will then take place in June, before the Roses are in 

 flower out of doors. When the second flowering is over 

 the plants may be plunged out of doors, syringing 

 frequently ; an occasional flower will come forth, but 

 it is desirable to rest them there till required for use 

 again in December. 



If no heat is applied to the house, less moisture 



