180 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



October they should be re-potted : they must be turned 

 out of the old pots, the crocks or charcoal drainage re- 

 moved, and also as much of the surface soil as can be 

 got away without disturbing the main ball of roots. 

 Thoroughly clean pots should be provided, a size larger 

 than before if necessary, and the loam in the new 

 compost should be as fresh as possible, that from an old 

 pasture being the best. The new drainage, whether 

 crocks or charcoal, and everything else should be fresh, 

 clean and sweet, the plants potted very firmly, and then 

 plunged afresh in a similar position out of doors. 

 They will require a little more water after the potting 

 but if the operation has been delayed till the season 

 mentioned, though many fresh roots will form in the, 

 new soil, no growth will be made except at the tips of 

 the shoots, where it will do no harm. The pots may be 

 removed to some cool shelter when there is danger of 

 frost or snow, and about Christmas the earliest plants 

 may be pruned and brought into the forcing house for 

 another season. 



To have Roses in bloom in November and December 

 the plants in pots should be so managed and arranged 

 as to form a crop of flower-buds out of doors in 

 October. Thin-petalled, readily opening sorts should 

 be chosen, especially the free-flowering thin Teas, 

 such as Safrano ; but some of the freest, semi-double 

 H.P.s will also answer the purpose. These should be 

 lightly pruned about August, and supplied with more 

 water : when the buds have formed in October the plants 

 should be left outside as long as possible, and when 

 brought into the house ought to be kept quite cool, giving 

 plenty of air whenever it is mild enough. Keep the 

 house rather dry, and the buds will open at any time by 

 the application of a little gentle heat, or even without it. 



