40 



IRISH GARDENING 



Ceanothuses and tlic largc-lcalrtl Kliododcinlions, 

 wiiieh, though niaiiy of them fiower as hite as 

 . I line, may he then pruned if, for any reason this 

 slioidd he necessary, and will have time to make 

 prowth and become ripened before winter sets in 

 again. 



The Rose Garden. 



At the time of writiiiL', just past the middle of 

 Fel)ruary. growth is so advanced on many Roses 

 that one is forced to conjecture what may liap])en 

 in the event of frosts later on. Fortunately, the 

 young growths i)roceed from the top of last year's 

 shoots, the buds at the base so far remaining dor- 



inlhience may not he very piciiouiu'cd. One safe 

 rule may be (pioted, and tiuit is. prum' luird, 

 newly-planted Roses of whatever section. With 

 regard to estahlisiicd bush Roses, the o])erator must 

 l)e guided l)y tiic vigour of tlie individual speci- 

 mens and tlieir l)ehaviour in liis own garden. It 

 is useless for anyone to say prune this or that 

 variety severely or lightly judging only from his 

 own specimens, for in another garden in different 

 soil the growth of the same varieties may be quite 

 different. Prune, then, according to the vigour of 

 the variety and tiie purpose for which it is grown, 

 whether to provide exhil)ition blooms or to provide 

 numerous Ijlooms foi- cutting or for a colour display 

 in the garden. 



mant. In the t'ase of hyhrid peipetiuds, In/hiid 

 fcds, and fea.s it will be possible to cut below the 

 young growth and secure strong shoots from the 

 base. Whether the present growth will have a weak- 

 ening effect on the plants for tlie rest of the summer 

 reinains to be seen, but it is possible that early root 

 action induced by the precocious unfoldii'ig of 

 young leaves may help to cause the dormant Itasal 

 buds to " break " strongly after pruning. Varieties 

 which flower on last year's wood will be forced into 

 bud early unless colder weather suijervenes, and 

 it is with these that there is most danger. 



Pruning. 



Time was when the various sections were fairly 

 well defined, and it was possible to lay down at 

 least general rules for pruning. Nowadays so much 

 inter-crossing has taken place that it "is difficult 

 indeed to say to which section some Roses belong. 

 The great majority of hush Roses recentlv sent out 

 nre classed as hyhi'id teas, tlmiigh evideiuT of tea 



Ramblers not attended to in autumn may be 

 looked to now, thinning out superfluous shoots and 

 shortening back lateral growths. Close pruning of 

 Ramblers is unnecessary, though nuxny flower well 

 on lateral growths of the current year. 



When pruning is finished carefully gather up all 

 >" :unings and burn them, and if disease was preva- 

 lent last summer spray the plants with Potassium 

 Sulphide, two ounces to three gallons of water, or 

 with Lime-Sulphur solution according to direc- 

 tions. 



Thereafter ])oint over the heds with a digging 

 fork, and if estal)lished plants are seen to be in 

 want of feeding diaw away some of the soil from 

 around them, and apjjly a forkful of rotten manure, 

 covering this again with the soil. Soils deficient 

 in lime will lienefit by an application of slaked lime 

 lightly scattered between and around the plants, 

 and for soils with sufficient lime a light dressing 

 of Snperpluisjijinte i~ effective. 



ROS.VRIO. 



