EOSES IN-DOOR AND OUT. 43c 



FLORICULTURE. 



ROSES IN-DOORS AND OUT. 



Among the various plants that can be made to bloom, in the window dur- 

 ing the winter, but few give more satisfaction, when it does well, than the 

 rose. The 'New York Tribune tells how to manage them so as to makethem^ 

 succeed : 



Eoses may be grown in-doors with very little trouble, and those who 

 fail have lack of knowledge — a minus quantity generally known as "bad 

 luck." Take the precaution to first remove all the foliage, and cut well back 

 every portion of the unripe wood. The root must never be allowed to dry 

 in the least. 



Prej^aro a little loamy soil from under the sod of an old pasture, or along 

 roadsides, and incorporate with it a portion of clean bar sand. A small 

 quantity of old rotted manure will also be beneficial, though we rely more 

 on liquid fertilizers applied while the plant is in a growing state, as that is 

 the time only when such stimulant is needed. 



In potting the plant fill in an inch or two of drainage (some writers 

 maintain that this is useless, but we believe it to be essential to perfect 

 health), and then a portion of the prepared soil. Place the roots in a nat- 

 ural position, do not cramp them, and then fill in gradually the remaining 

 soil, giving the pot an occasional shake to settle the earth well in among 

 the fibres and at the same time press the surface firmly. As a general rule, 

 plants thrive much better when the earth is hard than when left loose and 

 light. The strawberry, for example, cannot be forced to advantage unless 

 the soil has been pounded firm before the runners take root. After potting 

 thoroughly soak the soil, and place the plant in a cool, shady situation un- 

 til hard frosts set in, when it may be removed to a warm room. 



One of the chief points to be observed in forcing all plants is to perform 

 every stage of the process quietly, always beginning in time so as never to 

 hurry vegetation, which is invariably done at the expense of vitality. 

 Plants must have due time to form fresh rootlets in the soil before the leaves 

 and young growth commence their work. Some people put a plant right 

 out of the garden on the approach of cold weather, and then immediately 

 remove it to a warm, sunny window, often forgetting to water it for a long 

 time, and of course it presently becomes "sicklied o'er," and droops. As 

 to varieties of roses for potting, one can not go far astray with the Teas and 

 Chinas; but avoid particularly the Mosses and Hybrid Perpetuals, as these 

 will bloom but once during the winter, and then only sparingly, and with 

 the greatest reluctance. Such good old standbys as the White, and Pink 

 Daily, Hermosa, Agrippina, Safrano, and Cels, as well as the newer Bon 

 Silene and Isabella Sprunt, are always reliable. Do not try to do too much 



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