320 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



increased light, Roses in pots will bear more heat, but 

 remember that all of them, indoors or out, open their 

 finest and best coloured flowers in a slightly decreased 

 temperature. 



April. — In most seasons, in midland districts, the 

 second week will be soon enough for the pruning of Teas. 

 There will be no difficulty in finding Rose grubs now, 

 if the signs indicating their presence in the shoots 

 and young leaves are known. Maiden shoots and buds 

 should be examined the oftenest, as in these cases the 

 life of a whole plant is at stake. Suckers will begin to 

 be troublesome on all plants, especially on maiden 

 standards. Tie up the maiden shoots as soon as possible ; 

 if left too long, even though not blown out, they will grow- 

 away from the stake, and be troublesome to secure. A 

 regular system of hoeing should now T commence on the 

 Rose beds, on which no hard crust must be permitted to 

 form : one of the simpler and smaller forms of push- 

 hoes will generally be found most convenient. If liquid 

 manure is available it may be applied, but cautiously, 

 and not among dwarf maidens. The pushing buds and 

 shoots of pruned H.P.s may now be w T ell thinned ; the 

 sooner it is done the better, as rubbing, or even cutting, 

 out a great fat shoot leaves an ugly wound which bleeds 

 a good deal for a time. See that the shoots left are 

 free from pests. Indoors, cut back Marechal Niel, 

 climbing Niphetos and the like, gradually as the blooms 

 are gathered. The first bloom of the forced Roses will 

 now be over, and liquid manure — not too strong or too 

 cold — may be administered to those intended to flower a 

 second time, by immersing the pots. 



May. — This is the month for insect pests of all sorts. 

 The only plan is to go over the whole collection as often 

 as possible : I have several times found a large cater- 



