328 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



horizontal old wood. Pot-plants which have bloomed 

 should be hardened off by slow degrees that they may 

 be put out in June. 



June. — Disbudding will be in progress for a time, of 

 the later sorts. The plague of caterpillars will be wan- 

 ing, but those that remain will be far more dangerous, as 

 they will now be found attacking the buds themselves. 

 The shoots of all flexible varieties should be staked, the 

 ties being made pretty close to the buds. Watering 

 may be necessary if the weather is very dry, but it is 

 probably better to give none at all if a thorough 

 soaking cannot be managed. Hoe the next day after 

 rain, watering, or liquid manure. Green fly or mildew 

 must be met and combated at once. Where thrips have 

 been prevalent in former years, or at all events in very 

 dry weather, Teas and light-coloured Roses should be 

 syringed in the evening until the petals begin to show. 

 In dry weather Tea buds may be wrapped in paper 

 where intended for exhibition, and the protectors — 

 waterproof cones attached to stakes — should be got out, 

 overhauled, and placed in readiness. Exhibition boxes, 

 tubes, labels, and wires should also be prepared, and 

 moss procured, picked over, and laid on the trays in a 

 shady place in readiness. Constant watchfulness will 

 be required by an exhibitor, as his best bloom may be 

 spoilt by a caterpillar, a gust of wind, or even a shower 

 of rain, in a few hours. Raffia and stakes for tying, and 

 sulphur for mildew, should always be ready where they 

 can be got at once. The new shoots of Marechal Niel 

 under glass should be thinned and trained up under the 

 wires. Forward stocks may be budded this month with 

 buds from Roses on walls or grafted plants. Roses in 

 pots should have been so hardened off that they can be 

 planted out if desired by the middle of the month It 



