NOVEMBER. 265 



the ground. These should make growth one season, and at the next 

 pruning-time cut out all weak branches, and remove all shoots that 

 come up from the root. The shoots must be shortened to various 

 lengths, from one to three or four eyes, so as to form a good shrub, 

 and any that are in the way should be cut out. The after-treat- 

 ment of this kind of specimen is as simple as that of a Currant- 

 bush ; but in all pruning of Roses it is necessary that the shoots 

 should be cut as close to the eye as possible without mjuring it, and 

 all shoots that are cut away should be cut close to the stem from 

 which they grew. All shoots not cut close to the eye are liable to 

 die back past the eye. Once arrived at sufficient size and strength, 

 the shrub will live for years, and continue in perfection in a kind of 

 wild growth with but little pruning, and yet be a beautiful plant, for 

 it will in a manner prune itself, or at least those shoots that require 

 removing will die back, and there will be only the dead wood to cut 

 away. It must be borne in mind, however, that the above specimen 

 will not answer the purpose of almost managing itself until it is 

 several years old. 



A specimen Tree Rose should be selected thus : first, let it be on 

 a strong healthy stock, perfectly straight ; secondly, the bud should 

 have been placed on a strong shoot, and nearly close to the stock ; 

 thirdly, it should be of a sort calculated to form a good head. If a 

 standard be not attended to at first, it never will be handsome. As 

 regards pruning, the object should be to get the head as large across 

 as'the height from the ground to its under part; and in thickness, 

 from the bottom of the head to the top, two-thirds its diameter. In 

 pruning standards, the end bud should be left under the branch, in 

 order that the lower branches may incline downwards ; and these 

 end shoots being left two or three eyes long every time the trees are 

 pruned, the latter soon arrive at the desired size ; but when any por- 

 tion of the tree wants filling^ up, four or five eyes may be left. As 

 the trees advance to a large size, they require less assistance from us. 

 They assume an imposing appearance, and the increase of the head 

 is \krj much slower, for the tree has more to support, and therefore 

 requires but little pruning. 



The third kind of specimens are both curious and interesting. 

 To have them in good condition, it is well to begin with a good strong 

 Brier, and instead of cutting ofi:' the forked head, as many branches 

 as possible should be retained ; at least there should be three or four 

 good shoots spreading out about a foot each way when the Brier is 

 planted. The latter should have equally as much care as a good 

 Rose with respect to root, pruning, application of dung, &c., all of 

 which it should receive on the spot where it is to remain. All the 

 shoots on the stock should be rubbed off, but none from the forked 

 branches. About three branches should be allowed to remain and 

 grow on each of these forked ones. In selecting branches to be re- 

 tained, have an eye to the object aimed at, which is to place a bud 

 upon each shoot ;' therefore those should remain that occupy the best 

 position to sui)port the independent growth of their own head. Each 

 of these shoots should be budded in July, and none should be allowed 



