AUGUST. 
179 
and boxes, Mimulus, Geraniums, Petunias, Fuchsias, &c., coming on to take 
their appointed place within doors, where they shall be able to render fitting 
service. My two glass dishes are not lying by idle. I make them to appear 
in both pieces in my floricultural dramatic performance. One is filled with 
plants of Countess of Ellesmere Petunia, an old single variety, but, being 
dwarf-growing, and having a branching habit, it suits my idea famously, as the 
plants are covering the surface of the dish. The other dish has in it plants of 
Mimulus not so far advanced in growth, yet it will be a good companion for its 
colleague. They are yet out of doors, occupying my “ preparatory stage 
and, when their blossoms are expanding, they will be introduced to the window, 
to create their round of sensation also. A box of double-flowered Zinnias, and 
some other odds and ends, press on to be ready to play their part in the revo¬ 
lution of the drama. 
Finally, I am applying some weak guano water to my plants in the window. 
The action of the sun, checked by no protecting material, draws out the very 
life-blood of the soil, and the leaves of the plants begin to turn yellow in 
consequence. A judicious application of guano, in a weak liquid state, has 
arrested the tendency to impaired vigour— 
Whispered by the falling leaf; ”— 
and already the sickly garniture leaps up into rejuvinescent life. My little 
experiments, so mean as to be scarcely worth record, keep up a constant 
round of pleasureable excitement; and though, sometimes, they are not based 
on the most exact calculations of science, or natural philosophy, and failure 
comes after, I yet smile at the discomfiture, and again essay a new enterprise. 
“ ’Tis the black bosom of the rainy cloud 
Wears the bright rainbow form.” 
“ A universal love, a good in ill, 
Worketh for man, yet cheats his human skill.” 
Guo. 
THE NEW ROSES. 
So many applications have been made to me for my opinions respecting the 
new Roses of the last three years, that I have thought it best to refer inquirers 
to your August Number of the Flokist and Pomologist ; and shall, therefore, 
now speak of such varieties only as are really improvements on previously well- 
known kinds, either in quality of bloom, freedom of flowering, or robustness of 
growth, all of which qualifications are requisite now that we have such a number 
of good kinds to choose from. 
Most amateur Rose-growers have, at the present time, in their possession many 
old favourites which they would be loth to discard : still I would recommend that 
the propagation should be entirely confined to the more recent introductions, 
leaving the fine old standards or dwarf bushes, as the case may be, to assist in 
decorating the parterre, or adding grace and perfume to bouquets, which all 
growers of Roses are perhaps too frequently called upon to contribute, and which 
would often be of limited dimensions were the newer Roses the only ones to be 
found in the garden. All amateurs well know on such occasions how useful are 
the large bushes of Gloire de Dijon, Paul Perras, Coupe d’Hebe, Paul Ricaut, 
Mad. Knorr, Baronne Prevost, &c. I would, therefore, again say, Discard none, 
but continue to bud such kinds only as are real acquisitions. To those anxious to 
obtain the new flowers I would say, Lose no time in ordering from some respect¬ 
able nurserymen pot plants of the kinds you intend to grow. So soon as obtained 
bud or strike cuttings of all the wood that is available, then plant out without 
delay the plants you have purchased, giving them occasionally a good soaking of 
water. These plants will produce a fine head of bloom next year, and will have 
given you opportunities of having several duplicates of each kind; added to 
which, the plants will have become far better established, and more fit for next 
