216 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL, 
keeping in view the handsome formation of the plant. The 
plants may be shifted on through the season, and in the follow¬ 
ing season we shall probably find them in 16 or 12-sized pots 
preparing for a vigorous growth and bloom.. 
“ Soil, The soil in which I have them succeed well and have 
generally used, is two parts fresh turfy loam broken up, but 
not sifted ; two parts manure (road gatherings laid by for a 
season, or the remains of a hotbed not too far decomposed) ; 
and one part burnt earth. This compost should be thrown up 
in a heap in autumn, and turned two or three times during 
winter, and a little newly slaked lime scattered throughout to 
destroy worms and grubs. This is the soil used for the mass; but 
for the delicate varieties (Chinese, &c.) it may be improved by 
the addition of one part leaf-mould or well pulverised manure. 
Pruning. 'About the middle of November pruning may be 
performed, in order to effect an early bloom. It is a difficult 
matter to lay down any precise rules with regard to pruning ; 
upon the judicious adaptation of which depends not only the 
well-forming of the plant, but, in a great measure, the perfection 
of bloom also. In order to prune roses with certainty of suc¬ 
cess, we ought to know the character of each plant we are 
about to operate on, for roses of the same class ofttimes require 
very different pruning. The best criterion we can offer is, 
perhaps, habit of growth. Among the Hybrid Chinese, the two 
favourite old roses Brennus and Fulgens, both vigorous growers, 
frequently occasion great disappointment by not blooming. 
The failure will probably be found to arise from the method of 
pruning. These roses and others of like habit should be well 
thinned out, but the shoots which are left for flowering short¬ 
ened but little. Others of the same class (Hybrid Chinese), 
that are weak growers, may be shortened in close, such as 
General Allard and Lady Stuart. There are also varieties of 
intermediate growth which may be pruned in proportion. The 
classes Gallica, Provence, and Moss may be pruned closer than 
the Hybrid Chinese. The autumnal roses there is but little 
fear of pruning out of bloom; early or late they are sure to 
flower. One point, too, should be in mind, that roses, when 
grown in pots, may be pruned closer than when grown in the 
open garden/' 
We may probably return to this book of Mr. Paul's. 
Editor. 
