MARCH 245 



be removed if the weather permits, and the heap of 

 soil round the base of the plants should be levelled. 



This is the month for pruning all roses excepting the 

 true Teas, which are best pruned in April. The illus- 

 trated chapter on the subject will furnish the reader 

 with detailed information, so that we need not enlarge 

 upon the matter here. If the plants were looked over 

 in October, and superfluous shoots then removed, the 

 spring pruning will be greatly facilitated. A sharp look 

 out must be made for shoots from the stock. These 

 are known as suckers, and they often escape the vigi- 

 lance of the grower, to the great detriment of the plants. 

 Underground suckers from standards are best removed 

 with an iron spud, thrust beneath the soil as near the 

 stem as is possible without damaging the roots. 



Roses on sheltered walls will perhaps be showing 

 buds. If such could have a glass coping over them the 

 buds would develop. The writer has seen beautiful 

 buds gathered from sunny walls during March and April 

 where the plants have had the advantage of a glass 

 shelter just placed in front of the wall. The reason we 

 see so many crippled blooms of the old rose Gloire 

 de Dijon is that they are injured by spring frosts, 

 and this might be prevented by a simple glass shelter. 

 Many of the lovely Tea roses, such as Safrano, 

 Souvenir d'un Ami, etc., would yield quantities of early 

 buds if grown in the manner stated. 



As soon as pruning is finished, it is a good plan to 

 spray the plants with Bordeaux mixture, especially if 

 there has been trouble with rose rust or black spot. 



