42 
ON EMPLOYING THE CHINESE ROSES FOR MASSING. 
harmonise with surrounding objects. A belt of them planted round masses of ever- 
greens, have a charming effect, when contrasting their showy flowers with the sombre 
hue of the latter. R. indica, placed in amongst the mass, from its climbing inclina- 
tion will make its way through, and, flowering under such circumstances, has a novel 
and beautiful appearance. 
The Red China, R. semperflorens, grows less vigorously than either of the pre- 
ceding, but blooms with equal profusion, and is therefore, for small beds, probably 
superior. The colour of its flowers is such as to point it out as deserving to be 
placed in a select situation. R. semperflorens atrorubens, and R. semperflorens 
resplendens, are fine varieties of the last species, and equally with it adapted for the 
purpose stated. The species pointed out as suitable for massing, are so distinguished 
merely because they are so well known ; any of the scores of varieties of which they 
are types are in an equal degree useful for bedding out, and in numerous cases, it 
may be, are superior. 
Rosa Barclayana, a scarce but most excellent species, is truly beautiful when 
grown in this way. Its flowers are semi-double, of a very deep pink colour, are pro- 
duced in great abundance and all through the summer, and late in autumn, in parti- 
cular, produce an effect not easily described. It must be borne in mind that the 
common China Roses, and in short all the varieties in general, from being less infe- 
rior as directly regards their flowers and fragrance, are not seen to proper advantage 
when placed immediately in contrast with other classes of Roses ; so that growing 
them in masses adjacent to the superior kinds should be avoided. The deteriorat- 
ing effect of the latter only continues so long as they remain in flower, which is a 
very short time compared with the period the Chinas continue to bloom. The 
defect just alluded to may in a great measure be hid from view by picking off the 
flower-buds of those which suffer by comparison, and which indeed should always be 
practised to a certain extent, as it greatly strengthens the plants and induces them 
to flower with vigour for a longer period. The profusion of bloom is always such as 
to admit of its being thinned to advantage. 
As the plan of employing the Chinese Roses for bedding out, is one that is not 
practised to any extent, and as there are some points in managing them under these 
circumstances, that may not be generally understood, but which when attended to 
much increases their favourable success, it may be well to refer to them. 
In preparing beds for their reception, although no especial kind of soil or parti- 
cular preparation is necessary, they will succeed best when planted in strong rich 
loam of considerable depth, on a dry bottom. And as the wood of the Chinese Rose 
is always subject more or less to injury from the frosts of winter, the best way is to 
cut them off close to the ground every spring. In this practice consists the secret 
of producing in each plant that uniformity of strength, the effect of which is visible 
in the harmonious proportions of the growth of the whole ; a result so necessary 
among plants when growing in masses. At the time they are cut down there should 
be a little rotten dung or rich compost spread over the surface of the bed, and forked 
