84 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



and a little well-rotted manure over the crocks. Take the plant in left 

 hand, carefully arrange the roots to prevent cramping, and with a wooden 

 trowel place some of the compost among the roots. Ram the soil about 

 the roots firmly with a potting stick, then put in some more soil, give 

 another ramming, and the operation is complete when the soil reaches 

 the rim of the pot. Keep the tops well syringed, but do not water the 

 roots for a day or two, and then only give one good watering. Plunge 

 the plants in some ashes outdoors unless a cold pit is available, then 

 it is better they should be kept in this, with the light off, unless frost 

 or heavy rains intervene. Prune the plants in February, cutting them 

 back to 4 or 5 inches from the top of the pot. Keep lights off on mild 

 days, but put them on every night. Neither let the soil get quite dry 

 nor over water. As new growths appear keep the plants well apart, 

 and fumigate with tobacco sheets when green-fly is seen. It is not 

 necessary to keep the plants in pits, but it is advisable, as then one is 

 able to prune earlier without danger of new shoots being injured. Simple 

 pits may be made with turf walls, and any handy man can make a light, 

 or the parts can be purchased and nailed together. By May there will 

 be fine flowers on these plants. Plunge outdoors in full sun for the 

 summer, and in autumn they may be introduced to the greenhouse. 

 Pits with a southern aspect will grow Roses quite as well as a green- 

 house ; in fact, they would be better if it is necessary to have other 

 plants too. Give a top dressing the first year, not repotting. This is 

 accomplished by scraping away about an inch of the surface soil ; scatter 

 a tablespoonful of guano on the soil, and replace the soil removed with 

 some fresh loam. If a Marechal Niel or other climbing Rose is desired 

 to grow on the wall or roof of the greenhouse, either plant it in a large 

 pot or tub, unless a small border can be prepared for it, as advised under 

 heading of " Marechal Niel under Glass " (p. 82). If in pot or tub, give 

 plenty of drainage, and raise it upon two or three bricks, so that water 

 can pass away freely and also air enter the soil. 



Climbing plants known as " extra sized " in 8-inch pots are the 

 best to secure. For very small houses it would pay the grower to renew 

 the plants annually, for the nurseryman has better facilities of growing 

 this class of Rose correctly. When purchased no pruning is necessary, 

 save the extreme ends of the growths, for the stems should be well 

 ripened and in condition to produce a number of fine flowers the follow- 

 ing spring. Unless these climbing Roses, especially Marechal Niel, can 

 be made to yield new and strong annual growths they soon deteriorate, 

 hence the advice to purchase annually, for they can be secured for two 

 or three shillings, and the flowers they yield would realise more than 

 this at wholesale prices. 



Potting Roses. Roses forced in strong heat should be repotted in 

 July, and those grown in cool house in September. The pots and crocks 

 should be clean and pot firm ; the soil must not be too wet or too dry. 

 Give ample drainage, and do not sift the soil, as Roses like the little 

 lumps of loam. The best compost consists of three-parts loam, that 

 which has been stacked twelve months, if one can obtain it ; one-part 



