PRUNING 



179 



ever, the beginner prunes hard whenever he is in doubt, 

 he will probably have little cause for complaint. 



That the initial pruning of roses should be severe is 

 conceded by everyone who grows them. Roses planted 

 in November, or during the winter and spring, whether 

 climbing or bush, need to be cut hard back in the follow- 



The proper way to cut a shoot when rose pruning. 



ing March ; each shoot of the bush roses ought to be 

 cut to within two or three buds of the base, and the 

 stems of the climbing roses to within five or six inches 

 of the ground. It is true that if climbing roses are planted 

 in late October or early November, they may start into 

 vigorous growth without such hard pruning, but they 

 may not, and it is far safer to cut them back. Spring- 



