264 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Niel, for example, expends so mucli force in its 

 first blooming under glass, that cultivators have 

 not yet learnt the art of making it bloom a 

 second, to say nothing about a third time. But other 

 varieties, such as Niphetos, President, Madame 

 Falcot, the old valuable Rose known as Smith's 

 Yellow, China, and others, will yield three or four 

 crops a year under the guidance of considerate 

 culture and the stimulus of warmth. A temperature 

 of from 45*^ to Tv-ill be needed to crowd so many 

 Rose harvests within the year. 



This continuity of blooming somewhat complicates 

 the culture, inasmuch as semi-dryness and a consider- 

 able drop of temperature after blooming are some of 

 the best preparations for the next Rose harvest. And 

 it will be observed that a margin of 30^ has been 

 left for the purpose of checking or stimulating the 

 growth and blooming of the Roses. But this can 

 only be imperfectly applied to Roses ever-growing 

 and ever- blooming ; still, it may be used to a limited 

 extent, and, combined with the regulation of the 

 water supply, constitutes the chief controlling force 

 in the timing and continuity of the blooming of 

 Roses under glass. 



G-eneral Culture. — The chief other points in 

 the culture of Rose-houses aiie watering, the giving 

 of air, shading, and the destruction of insects. 

 Notwithstanding what has been written on par- 

 tially withholding water, Roses in constant growth 

 should never be allowed to flag. Of course, this 

 applies to such as are to be ever-blooming. Roses in 

 cool houses, or such as are expected only to bloom 

 once or twice a year, may be dried up rather se- 

 verely to heighten the maturity of the wood with 

 positive benefit. But for Roses in full growth 

 the atmosphere should be kept moist by frequent 

 surface sprinklings, and overhead watering of the 

 Roses at least twice a day, unless when in full 

 bloom. By carefully syringing and keeping the 

 water low, a large proportion of the foliage of 

 dwarf Roses may be wetted without injury to 

 the blooms. Ventilation must be abundant in 

 mild weather, and so managed as not to create 

 draughts. To guard against these, the two sides of 

 span-roofed houses should never be opened together, 

 unless in the very hottest weather. The opening of 

 the ventilators on the highest part of the roof wull 

 mostly suffice, without opening the lower ones at all. 

 Shading may also prove necessary for two hours on 

 eitner side of noon during bright hot weather, when 

 the Roses are in bloom. It preserves the bloom so 

 much longer, and also keeps the colours bright and 

 pure. It must on no account, however, be carried to 

 excess, or one crop of Roses will be preserved at the 

 expense of the next, which will be less numerous 



and inferior in quality in the ratio of the excess 

 of shade. 



Insects. — The chief and most troublesome insect 

 on Roses under glass is the aphis, and fumigation 

 with tobacco cloth or paper is the simplest remedy. 

 Apply this the moment it appears, and before it 

 increases sufficiently to mar or injure the plants. 

 Very often the more heat the more aphides, and, un- 

 less with sun-heat, it is not needful to raise the tem- 

 perature of even perpetual-blooming Rosaries imder 

 glass beyond 65°. Such means of prevention are 

 better than cure, though the cure for aphides under 

 glass is simplicity itself. Into an iron fumigator or 

 strong garden pot place a few glowing coals fi-om 

 kitchen or f mmace fire, and on these put a pound or so 

 of tobacco rag or paper, previously torn up into frag- 

 ments. Cover this with a layer of crushed leaves 

 of the common English Laurel, or of damp moss, 

 and exit as quickly as possible, while the cloud of 

 smoke fills the house so densely that you cannot see 

 a Rose-bush or tree through the glass. A quarter 

 of an hom- in such a stifling atmosphere suffices for 

 the strongest aphides, but, unless there is too much 

 fire or tobacco, the charge may be safely allowed to 

 bum itself out, and there will be no more live 

 aphides ; or should a few appear, smoke again next 

 day ; a heavy overhead washing with the sjiinge dis- 

 places or drowns any that were only made sick by the 

 fumigation. 



Varieties suitable for Culture under 

 Glass. —In brief, all the best of the Teas, Noisettes, 

 and Hybrid Perpetuals wiU do weU. in cool Rose- 

 houses. For perpetual blooming-houses, the choice 

 is far more limited. In addition to those already 

 named, the following may be relied on : — Devoni- 

 ensis, dwarf and climbing ; ]\Iarie Van Houtte, Letty 

 Coles, Safrano, Catherine Mermet, Marie Guillot, 

 Anna 01i\der, Souvenir de Paul Neron, Marie Hen- 

 riette, Bougere, Duchess of Edinburgh, Madame 

 Cusin, Souvenir d'un Ami, The Bride, and White 

 Lady. 



Probablj" the best Perpetuals for this mode of 

 growth are :— La France, Boule de Niege, Jules 

 ]\Iargottin, Prince Camille de Rohan, John Hopper, 

 Alfred Colomb, Charles Lefebvre, Duke of Edin- 

 ])urgh. Mile. Marie Rady, Prince Arthur, Victor 

 Verdier, The Puritan, Duchess of Albany. 



THE CULTIVATION OF BOSES IN POTS. 



One of the chief merits of this mode of cultm-e is 

 that it brings the beauty and fi-agrance of the Roses 

 within reach of aK. 



Every one familiar with towm and subiu'ban resi- 

 dences, or small gardens in country places, must haA^e 



