VI PRUNING 111 



it, but we ought not to want Eoses under glass when 

 there are plenty out of doors. I know of no system 

 which will so well provide for the utilisation of the 

 strong autumnal growth ; and the blooms from these 

 strong shoots are far superior to any that can be 

 gathered from older wood or weak laterals. 



As the cultivation of Marechal Niel under glass by 

 this method should result in the production of a large 

 number of fine Eoses all at once, and there will 

 probably be a desire to send some away to friends 

 by post or rail, this seems a good place to say some- 

 thing as to the packing and carriage of Eose blooms 

 in general. For sending large quantities by rail, the 

 method that professionals have learnt by experience 

 had better be followed : in a shallow box the Eoses, 

 gathered quite dry, should be laid flat in rows as 

 closely together as possible, and all the same way ; 

 the ends of the shoots are wrapped in a mass of 

 strips of some slightly absorbent paper well wetted 

 — a much cleaner material than moss— and the 

 whole made as tight as possible and covered with 

 clean paper. 



Eoses often travel badly by post, the reason being 

 that, if packed as above in an oblong box, the parcel 

 is often carried perpendicular in the postman's 

 basket, and the Eoses standing on their heads will 

 all work down to one end and bruise the most tender 

 and beautiful parts— the tips of the petals. For 

 choice specimens, or at any time for small quantities, 

 I would recommend that each actual flower be care- 

 fully wrapped in soft tissue paper, with a little 

 cotton wool at the bloom end of the package, and 

 much greater security by post can be attained by 

 tying the stems in some simple manner to the 



