360 LECTURE ON SPRING FLOWERING PLANTS. 



the nearer we can approach the climate of spring, minus 

 the night frosts, the greater amount of success we shall 

 attain. As we want a warm moist climate, we cannot 

 afford to give much air unless the weather be mild, and 

 then, even then, caution is necessary. When the leaves 

 become hard, which they do by February, more air may be 

 admitted, and towards the end of February, as the buds 

 show colour, the amount of air given may be still in- 

 creased. Throughout this period of growth (their spring) 

 a low night temperature should be maintained. 



The Rose has many enemies. The aphis or green-fly 

 is one of the most formidable, and must be kept in check ; 

 the first aphis that is seen should be the signal for filling 

 the house with t tobacco-smoke, which must be repeated 

 from time to time as they reappear. 



Mildew is another annoyance to which Roses are 

 commonly liable. To maintain a healthy state of the 

 roots and leaves is the best preventive ; to dust the leaves 

 with sulphur the best remedy. I always keep in my Rose 

 houses a little machine called a " Sulphurator." If any 

 plant or branch is attacked by mildew, that plant or 

 branch is immediately syringed, and the machine brought 

 into use. The sulphur is driven against both the under 

 and upper sides of the moist leaves the plant is indeed 

 enveloped in a cloud of sulphur and the mildew is checked 

 or destroyed. 



It is March, spring out of doors, but summer with our 

 Roses. The plants are free from mildew and aphis, the 

 leaves are clean, broadly developed, intense in the colour- 

 ing, and the gorgeous blossoms are ready to unfold. We 

 are here in full summer tide, although the Roses out of 

 doors are still in embryo. How shall we proceed to retain 

 these flowers in full beauty for as long a period as possible, 

 and yet develope the later and lingering buds. The tem- 

 perature of the house may be slightly lowered, and the 

 plants may be watered freely. Syringing may be discon- 

 tinued, or more sparingly applied. A slight shading 



