806 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART 111. 



raised from seed when it is thought desirable to procure new varieties. The 

 seeds, in either case, are separated from the hips when the latter are fully 

 ripe ; and are either sown immediately, or mixed with sand and preserved till 

 the following spring. They are then sown, and thinly covered with soil. The 

 plants will come up the first season, and, with careful treatment, they will 

 flower, in most cases, in the fourth or fifth year; but the varieties of R. sem- 

 pertiorens will frequently flower the second year, and sometimes even the 

 first year. 



Culture. The rose, in an artificial state, may be considered in the light of 

 an herbaceous plant; in so far that it requires to be frequently taken up and 

 replanted, that this may be done at almost any season, and, also, that it should 

 have its old wood cut out every year, or every second or third year. 



Planting roses should, in general, be performed in the autumn ; but, with the 

 more delicate varieties of China roses, and with R. multiflora, R. moschata, 

 and their varieties, it may be deferred till spring. As roses have but few 

 fibrous roots, the operation of planting them may be easily and rapidly per- 

 formed ; the chief point being to put some fresh soil in the hole along with the 

 roots, and to press the earth firmly to them. In cold clayey soils, Mr. Rivers 

 recommends, as the best compost for roses, rotten dung and pit sand ; and in 

 warm dry soils, rotten dung and cool loams. When standard roses are to be 

 planted in a broad border, it is almost unnecessary to observe, that those 

 nearest the walk should be the lowest, and those at the greatest distance from 

 it the highest. A border 15 ft. or 20 ft. wide, planted in this manner, with 

 five or six parallel rows, quincunx in the plan, and rising one above another 

 in the elevation, has a very splendid effect when the plants are in flower. 



Taking up and Rep/anting. The rose, whether grown as a standard or a 

 dwarf, ought to be taken up every five or six years, even in good soils, and 

 have its roots shortened and trimmed ; a portion of the soil in which it grew 

 should also be removed, and replaced by rich fresh loam. In unfavourable 

 soils, Mr. Rivers remarks, this process ought to be performed every third or 

 fourth year. Dr. Van Mons says that the practice in Belgium, even in the 

 best soils, is to take up the plants at the end of eight years, and either replace 

 them in fresh soil, or throw them away, and substitute young plants. In com- 

 mon flower-borders, where dwarf roses are not grafted, and where, of course, 

 the}- produce suckers freely, they should be taken up every other year, and 

 replanted ; the digging and manuring of the border occasioning a change in the 

 position of the soil relatively to that of the plant, and thus producing nearly 

 the same effect as the partial renewal of the soil. 



Planting to retard the Flowering of Roses. The rose may be taken up and 

 replanted at any season, provided the shoots are shortened, and deprived of all 

 their leaves; and the soil in which they are planted liberally supplied with water. 

 Hence roses, taken up just before they are coming into flower, and properly 

 pruned and replanted, will produce their flowers in November ; or, by planting 

 them in pots, and placing them in a shady situation, and then putting them 

 under glass on the first appearance of frost, they may be made to produce 

 their flowers about Christmas. Practices of this kind were formerly common 

 among the florists of Paris, but have been, in a great measure, relinquished 

 since the introduction of the sweet-scented China roses ; which, placed in a 

 moderate heat, under glass, in autumn, continue flowering all the winter. 

 Rosea may also be made to flower in the autumn by pruning them back in the 

 spring, as soon as the flower buds are discoverable. The plant, in this case, 

 as in that of taking up and replanting, makes a second effort to produce 

 flowers, which effort is not attended with success till late in the season. 



The Rose des Quatre Seasons is a good sort for employing in these operations ; 

 and Dumont observes that this rose, when pruned immediately after it has 

 bloomed for the first time, may be made to produce its flowers during winter; 

 being, of course, protected by a hand-glass, and covered with mats during 

 rery severe weather. In all experiments for forcing roses in the open air, it 

 must be remarked, thai ii is essential for the soil to be fresh and rich, and 

 the situation favourable. 



