CHAPTER XXV 



PRUNING 



A proper comprehension of the principles that underlie 

 the pruning of roses is essential before the practice can 

 be successfully accomplished, but once this is obtained, 

 the difficulties that at first seemed insuperable vanish like 

 mists in the morning sunshine. The two chief objects 

 of pruning may be said to be the removal of superfluous 

 and useless growths, and the proper treatment and 

 regulation of those that are essential to the production 

 of flowers. If a rose bush were left unpruned for a 

 number of years, most of the fresh shoots would develop 

 towards the top of the plant, with the result that the 

 rose would grow taller and become weaker each season. 

 Moreover, the bush would be full of small, weakly, 

 flowerless growths, which, while useless in themselves, 

 hinder the progress and lessen the value of those that 

 are worthy. A principle the beginner has to learn early 

 is that the result of cutting back a shoot is the develop- 

 ment of other and stronger growths : thus, in order to 

 make a weakly plant strong, the shoots are cut hard 

 back ; conversely, a rose that has vigorous stems needs 

 less severe pruning. Instructions on pruning roses can 

 only be general, since the amount of cutting back that 



is necessary depends upon the condition of the individual 



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