610 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 7,18>I. 
classes substitute several new ones for rosarians who have joined the 
Society within say three years, or those who have never won a prize at 
its exhibitions. By adopting this plan a nursery will soon be formed, 
and thus the babes of the present may become the giants of the future, 
and probably not unworthy to be compared with their predecessors.— 
Charles J. Grahame, Croydon. 
MANUEINa AND TRANSPLANTING ROSEB. 
Autumn and winter are the best times in the whole year for applying 
a liberal dressing of solid manure to the soil devoted to the growth of 
the queen of garden flowers. Where good manure is plentiful and is 
largely used for the purpose the difficulties of Rose growing are reduced 
to a minimum. No mere sprinkling of this necessary fare will suffice 
to keep such gross feeders in health and vigour. A coating of from 
3 to 6 inches in thickness should be spread evenly over the whole surface 
of the bed, and as the work proceeds be packed closely around the stems 
of standards or the stools of bushes. The manure then answers the 
two-fold purpose of protecting the roots from severe frosts and of supply¬ 
ing them with abundant nutriment, as the rains and snow convey its 
most powerful constituents to the soil. This layer of manure should 
remain upon the surface of the soil till the Roses are pruned in the spring, 
when it is necessary to fork the beds over to a sufficient depth to admit 
of covering the manure. Deep digging around Rose bushes should at 
all times be avoided, as it is most inimical to their well being, by driving 
the roots deeper into the soil, when the aim of the cultivator should be 
to keep them near the surface. 
On light hungry soils 1 believe cow manure to be unsurpassed for 
Roses, for it is not only extremely rich in easily assimilated plant food, 
but being also close in texture helps to make the soil more retentive of 
moisture, an object not easily accomplished when ordinary farmyard 
manure containing a good percentage of straw is employed unless very 
much decayed, in which condition its manurial properties are consider¬ 
ably lessened. On the other hand, when dealing with a heavy soil fresh 
horse manure containing a good amount of strawy matter is of great 
utility in keeping the soil open so that the action of the weather may 
pulverise it. 
I find it an excellent plan to lift and transplant bush Roses every 
three or four years ; this is especially the case with those on their own 
roots, as by continually throwing up suckers in various directions the 
centre of the stool is often left bare. In addition to the advantage 
accruing from this point of view, the bushes are undoubtedly kept 
healthy and vigorous, without producing such exceptionally strong shoots 
as undisturbed bushes do when pruned closely to secure large blooms. 
The reason why periodically lifted Roses give such satisfactory result is, 
I doubt not, in consequence of the number of fibry roots produced under 
this system of management, which also gives opportunities of frequently 
trenching the soil and incorporating manure with it throughout its 
entire depth. Ample food being thus within easy reach of the roots 
they show no inclination to wander away in search of it, making in 
their course long fibreless lengths, which all cultivators dislike to see. 
November is perhaps the best time to take in hand the work of 
lifting or planting the hardier kinds of Roses, and those enthusiastic 
rosarians whose Roses are the most important feature in their gardens, 
will doubtless have managed to carry out the work ; but gardeners who 
have extensive charges in each department to attend to must perforce 
fit in this kind of work whenever opportunities arise and the weather is 
favourable. November is a busy month with most of us, as with the 
leaves from numerous trees falling fast (which if not quickly collected 
are swept by the wind in all directions, only to give additional labour) 
and other alterations also in progress, planting must necessarily be 
delayed ; however, by choosing an open spell of weather when the ground 
is fairly dry, we have hitherto been able to perform this kind of work 
with the best results, and contemplate undertaking it again at various 
times during the next three months. 
Our plan of procedure is to take up the Roses, carefully cut away 
any old fibreless parts or stools from which the younger portions have 
extended, and at the same time making a clean cut at the ends of all 
other roots, so that they are in readiness for replanting. They are then 
laid upon the ground and covered with mats while the beds are being 
prepared for their reception. This preparation consists in double¬ 
digging, at the same time giving a heavy dressing of manure, which is 
well incorporated with the soil as the work proceeds, and a little of the 
subsoil is mixed with the upper strata. When the digging is completed 
the Roses are at once planted, spreading the roots evenly in all direc¬ 
tions, and keeping them near the surface. Any plants which have 
become leggy ought to be planted obliquely. Light soils should be 
trod firmly ; but when dealing with heavy ones the fork or spade should 
take the place of the foot in pressing down the soil. A couple of 
inches of rough manure must in all instances be placed upon the 
surface to complete the work.—A Lover of Roses. 
AUTUMN AND WINTER FLOWERS. 
Not often is a finer display seen than I found on a recent visit to 
Norman Court, the residence of W. Baring, Esq., as provided by the 
able gardener, Mr. J. Hughes. Apart from Chrysanthemums, which 
were admirably represented. Salvia splendens was very striking. The 
plants were grown from cuttings rooted in March and planted out 
in^ the open, afterwards taken up and established in 10-inch pots, the 
soil used being loam and leaf mould, no sand. Well-grown Zonal 
Pelargoniums intermixed with Mignonette and Heliotropes formed an 
effective combination, and Primulas were very fine indeed. 
The stage on the south side of the Rose house was filled with Miss 
Jolliffe Carnations (the improved strain), the blooms being not in hun¬ 
dreds but thousands, and well worth a long journey to see. Mr. Hughes 
may be justly proud of his success in the culture of these plants, and it 
seems a pity it should not be convenient to place them before the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s Committee, where I have no doubt they would 
receive the recognition they deserve. There are 200 plants, in 7-inch 
and 9-inch pots. The cuttings were rooted about the middle of February 
in slight bottom heat, the plants being eventually potted and grown in 
a cold frame. The final potting was done in July, the compost then 
used being good maiden loam, charred soil, leaf mould, with a little 
bonemeal and sand added. Some of the best plants had twelve spikes, 
carrying from forty to fifty blooms. The house is kept cool with plenty 
of air, and the plants, which are sturdy in growth, are kept free from 
insects. On the north stage of the same house was a collection of 
dwarf German Scabious. These plants were kept growing through the 
summer, but all flower spikes as they appeared were pinched off until a 
few weeks ago. At the present time they are in full bloom, affording a 
pleasing variety of colour, in 32-size pots, some of the plants carrying 
from fifty to sixty trusses of flowers. 
Other winter-flowering plants are not forgotten. Cyclamens, Marie 
Louise Violets, and Cinerarias are grown in pits, as are Bouvardias, 
these being planted out, and will no doubt prove of great service. I hope 
these few stray notes may show what can be done with perseverance. 
Such good work merits appreciation, and Mr. Hughes is to be congratu¬ 
lated on what he has accomplished so well.—W. Palmer, F.R.H.S. 
Events of the Week. —Comparatively few events of horticul¬ 
tural interest will take place in the metropolis during the ensuing week. 
The Royal Botanic Society will hold a meeting in the Gardens, Regent’s 
Park, on Saturday, December 9th, and the Committees of the Royal 
Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill Hall, James Street, S.W., 
on Tuesday, the 12th inst. 
- The Weather in London. —Various changes in the weather 
have taken place during the past week. On Sunday morning a severe 
frost prevailed, 12° being registered in some suburban districts. 
Towards evening on that day it became milder, and a little rain fell 
during the night. Monday was mild and dull, Tuesday being colder and 
foggy in the morning. Wednesday opened dull, but at the time of 
going to press it is clearing. 
- Weather in the North.— The weather has been change¬ 
able for the last eight days, with occasional high winds and drizzling 
showers. On the morning of the 30th ult. the ground was white with 
snow, and heavy falls were reported from the northern counties. 
December opened with frost, 7° in the morning of the 1st, and 14° on 
Saturday morning. By evening it rained heavily, and till Tuesday 
morning the weather has been fresh and generally fine for the season.— 
B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- Earl’s Court Exhibition. — My attention having been 
drawn to the remarks of one or two correspondents (pages 444 and 493) 
who have exhibited at Earl’s Court, and not received their prize money, 
I regret to say that the delay has occurred through the illness of the 
Financial Director, who has been, and is now suffering from influenza. 
As soon as he is able to attend to business the prizewinners will receive 
their awards.— Harry Turner, The Royal Nurseries, Slough. 
- Royal Horticultural Society.— The last meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society for the year 1893 will take place in the 
Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, Westminster, on Tuesday, 
December 12th. The Fruit, Floral, and Orchid Committees will 
assemble at twelve o’clock, and new Fellows will be elected at three 
o’clock. 
-Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —Mr. G. J. 
Ingram, Secretary, 50, Parliament Street, London, S.W., writes :—I 
have been requested to acknowledge the following sums received in aid 
of the funds of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution : Mr. Bailey 
Wadds of Birdsall, York, £2 11s.; and the Reigate and District Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society, £31 lOs. 
