DECEMBER 263 



thrust among the shoots. All planting ought to be 

 completed now if the weather keeps mild. Any soft 

 shoots should be cut back to within six or eight inches 

 of the base ; this enables them to harden, and they are 

 then less liable to be injured by frost. 



The roses in pots intended for earliest flowering 

 should now be pruned and placed in a cold frame. Rose 

 seed should be sown in pots of sandy soil. 



December 



A few roses in pots should now be brought into the 

 greenhouse — ^those that were pruned last month. Another 

 lot may be pruned and placed in a cold frame. The 

 shoots of climbing roses under glass need to be well tied 

 lout, the oldest growths being cut out to make room for 

 them if necessary, though really this should have been 

 done earlier. The borders in which roses are planted 

 out in the greenhouse should be top dressed with loam 

 and bonemeal in equal parts, or pulverised sheep or 

 poultry manure may be used instead of the latter. 

 Rose seed may still be sown. Pot up seedling Briers ; 

 they will be useful for budding any choice seedling upon 

 under glass in May. 



Stocks grown in pots should now be placed in the 

 greenhouse ready for grafting next month. 



If the weather is frosty take the opportunity to wheel 

 manure on land that has not yet been manured. Rose 

 hedges and big bushes in the wild garden ought not to 

 be overlooked in the matter of maniiring. Gaps in such 

 hedges may be filled up now, and new hedges planted if 



