346 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



all plants moved at this time, whether stocks or 

 Roses, should be kept in water as long as they are 

 out of the ground. All budded stocks should now 

 be staked, and the buds carefully examined, for the 

 grub is sometimes at work before March is out. If 

 it be desired to retard the blooming of Teas, a thick 

 heavy mulch of long wet manure laid on now while 

 the ground is still very cold will keep the roots cool 

 and, to a certain extent have the required effect. Be 

 most careful of the ventilation of Marechal Niel 

 under glass, and attack mildew and aphides when 

 they first appear. With the increased light, Roses 

 in pots will bear more heat, but remember that all 

 of them, indoors or out, open their finest and best 

 coloured flowers in a slightly decreased temperature. 

 April. — In most seasons, in midland districts, the 

 second week will be soon enough for the pruning of 

 Teas. There will be no difficulty in finding Rose 

 grubs now, if the signs indicating their presence in 

 the shoots and young leaves are known. Maiden 

 shoots and buds should be examined the oftenest, 

 as in these cases the life of a whole plant is at stake. 

 Suckers will begin to be troublesome on all plants, 

 especially on maiden standards. Tie up the maiden 

 shoots as soon as possible ; if left too long, even 

 though not blown out, they will grow away from 

 the stake and be troublesome to secure. A regular 

 system of hoeing should now commence on the 

 Rose beds, on which no hard crust must be 

 permitted to form : one of the simpler forms of 

 push-hoes, of which I believe the " Sproughton " to 

 be the best, will generally be found most convenient. 

 If liquid manure is available it may be applied but 

 cautiously, and not among dwarf maidens. The 



