POPULAR GARDEN PLANTS. 



503 



a layer of loose litter over the pots, but the 

 delicate sorts ought to have the protection of 

 a cold frame; in spring they may be again 

 plunged out-of-doors, where 

 they may remain till October, 

 when they may be introduced 

 into a temperature of 50° to 

 55° for flowering during the 

 ensuing winter. If young 

 plants lately struck from cut- 

 tings are preferred, they should 

 be shifted in spring into 5- or 

 6-inch pots, and plunged out- 

 of-doors as already recom- 

 mended. In July or August 

 most of the plants will require 

 to be shifted into 8- or 9-inch 

 rig. 6io. pots, and if removed in Octo- 



ber to a pit, and later on to 

 the Rose house, they will bloom throughout the 

 winter. These forced plants should be hardened 

 off in March or April and repotted in fresh soil, 

 using, if necessary, pots a size larger; they may 

 then be plunged out-of-doors. 



The time of pruning must be regulated by 

 the season at which the plants are required 

 to be in flower; for the earlier this operation 

 is performed, the earlier will the flowers be 



Fig. 611. 



produced, 

 pruning at 

 Roses may 



provided the wood is ripe. By 



various periods, and by forcing, 



be made to flower throughout the 



year. Roses grown in pots require, as a rule, 

 closer pruning than those planted in the open 

 ground. The shoots must be tied out at an 



Fig. 612. 



early stage of their growth, nipping off the 

 flower-buds if not required. They should be 

 syringed occasionally during the growing sea- 

 son, and green-fly, thrips, and other insect 

 pests must be kept under by fumigation and 

 the judicious use of insecticides. An occasional 

 application of weak liquid manure will prove 

 very beneficial to them. Draughts, or extremes 

 in water-supply, are often the cause of mildew 

 and the attacks of insect pests. 



Propagation. — The Rose is propagated by 

 seeds, cuttings, layers, suckers, buds, and 

 grafts. 



Seeds are sown usually with the object of 

 obtaining improved varieties. Many fine 

 varieties have been raised in this country, 

 and home-raised Roses are now numerous. 

 When the flowers expand, if a cross is to be 

 effected, the stamens of the female parent 

 ought to be removed with fine scissors, and 

 as soon as the pollen of the male parent is 

 ripe, it should be applied to the stigma with 

 a camel-hair pencil. A muslin protector ought 

 to be placed about the flower to prevent 

 interference from insects. When ripe, the seed- 

 pods or hips should be gathered and placed in 



