46 PROPAGATION OP THE EOSE. 



pletely as any. For instance, Polyanthus seed and Eose seed were 

 sown in the same kind of soil, loam and dung, in the same sort of 

 pan, placed in the same garden Hght, watered at the same time ; and, 

 though coming up at a different period, submitted to the same treat- 

 ment in other respects; shaded from the same noon- day sun, and, 

 though at a different time, pricked out into pots, four or five in a pot, 

 round the edge; kept cool, and growing right on; and when the 

 Polyanthuses were placed in their single pots, the Roses were also 

 potted in theirs. They were kept dry rather than otherwise all the 

 ensuing winter, in a cold frame, with their neighbors, well protected 

 against frost ; and that was all. 



In the spring, when they began to grow, they were bedded out in 

 rows, in a shady border, six inches apart, and the rows a foot apart, 

 and here they remained another season, making considerable growth ; 

 some were of the China kind, and those were potted up and kept 

 growing ; the others were hooped over with low hoops, which kept 

 the covering close down on them in bad weather, and there were 

 several that died during the winter. In the spring they were pruned 

 carefully, so far as to remove all but the two or three strongest shoots, 

 and those were cut about half way back. Several bloomed weakly, 

 but most of them made good growth. No part of the success, how- 

 ever, went beyond the growth ; not half a dozen came at all double, 

 and though there were some bright colors, there were none in our 

 estimation worth saving. The China ones were rather better, but not 

 good enough ; so that, after giving a few of the best another year's 

 chance, every vestige was given or thrown away. The experiments 

 followed up season after season led to the following confirmed prac- 

 tice : — The berries were dried all the winter ; they were then bruised 

 in a bag, and the seeds carefully picked out; a slight hot bed was 

 made up as if for annuals; the soil put six inches deep all over, half- 

 rotted turf and half cow dung, raked smooth, and the seed sown evenly 

 and thinly all over — occasionally moistened ; the seeds came up well, 

 and were shaded ; had plenty of air given, and the usual attendance 

 to see that they were not dry, but not much watered. Here, as soon 

 as they were large enough, they were thinned a little, by carefully 

 removing a few wherever they were too thick, which removed ones 

 were as carefully potted oil and kept in the greenhouse. They had 

 no other care during the season than protecting them from too much 



