PRUNING ROSES. 95 
merely say that those Roses which make long and 
flexible shoots may be pruned in less closely, and those 
that make less growth must be cut in closer, such as 
the old Coupe d’Hébé, Chénedolé, Céline, &c.; which 
are Hybrid Chinas, strong growers, and are samples of 
those which must not be pruned in too much; but the 
Hybrid Perpetuals, Chinas, Tea Chinas, and Gallicas 
or French Roses, may be cut in much closer. 
Now some will perhaps ridicule the idea of my refer- 
ring to such old Roses as the above, and ask, Why 
not mention some newer sorts? To this I may fairly 
answer, Because I am convinced that the old are 
better. I know that it is one thing to fancy that all 
new things are best because they are new, but it is 
quite another thing to prove this and also to find it so 
by comparison. I am quite convinced that none of 
the new Roses can excel, if they can equal, the Coupe 
d’Hébé, Chénedolé, Brennus, William ‘Jesse, the old 
Crested Provence, &c. All of these are strong and 
vigorous growers and must not be pruned much, except 
the last, which may be pruned moderately. But if such 
as the first four are pruned or cut back too much, no 
flowers will be obtained. ‘Too much!’ some will ex- 
claim, ‘ What is too much?’ Well, these Roses must 
not be cut in closer than from nine inches to one foot six 
inches within the base of the new wood, and some, such 
as the Brennus, Chénedolé, &c., must be pruned but 
little, indeed, merely taking a few inches off the points 
of the strong shoots will be enough. 
It is safer not to prune some Roses at all than to 
prune them too severely. Maréchal Niel, for instance, 
although we know it to be a fast-growing climber, will 
not bear severe pruning, and flowers of this class must 
