278 



Gardening for Amateurs 



to go to a little trouble and care to obtain 

 them, for even in the heart of a large city 

 attached to the house there is usually a small 

 paved yard where quite a large number of 

 Rose trees may be grown in tubs or similar 

 receptacles. 



Preparing the Tubs. Any class of box 



Rose Griiss an Teplitz (Hybrid Tea) ; this variety soon forms a 

 big bush and bears crimson, fragrant blossoms. 



or tub is serviceable, provided it is of stout 

 wood and fairly roomy. Good drainage 

 being absolutely essential, holes about 1 inch 

 in diameter must be bored in the bottom and 

 at the base of the sides. It is a good plan to 

 cover the sides with virgin cork, which is 

 obtainable from any nursery sundriesman, 

 for not only does it give the tubs a neater and 

 more presentable appearance, but the cork 



forms a good protection against extreme cold 

 or heat. The tubs should then be set on 

 bricks to allow thorough drainage and a good 

 circulation of air. Next place a good layer 

 of broken crocks or stones in the bottom, 

 and fill up with soil to within 1 or 2 inches 

 of the top. The soil should be composed of 2 

 parts of turfy loam and 1 

 part of well-rotted manure 

 thoroughly mixed, together 

 with a sprinkling of silver 

 sand and basic slag or 

 slaked lime thrown in. 



If immediate effect is 

 desired, it is best to obtain 

 established plants in pots, 

 as these will start growing 

 at once, and will flower the 

 following summer. Plants 

 from the open ground are 

 much less expensive, but 

 they will require at least 

 one season to become 

 established. If pot plants 

 are to be used, turn them 

 out of the pot, remove 

 the crocks without break- 

 ing the ball of earth, and 

 give them a soaking in 

 water before transferring 

 to the tub. 



Care must be taken to 

 make the soil quite firm, 

 as Roses like tight potting ; 

 but it must not be sticky 

 or wet, or it will set too 

 hard around the plants 

 and prevent development. 

 Plants from the open 

 ground should be put into 

 the tubs in the early 

 autumn and receive the 

 same treatment, excepting 

 that the roots would need 

 pruning and arranging evenly. To prevent 

 the soil from drying in the hot summer 

 weather, the surface should be covered 

 with coco-nut fibre, peat moss fibre, finely 

 chopped straw or something similar. 



General Directions during the Follow- 

 ing Season. Water should be given in 

 good quantities, but not too frequently, 

 while an occasional syringeing will be greatly 



