190 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
shoots are young and they will “ grow out” of the 
injury, just as a child will from a severe wound or 
accident. Those that are stopped, and commence 
srowth again from the side buds, are not likely to 
produce exhibition blooms that year ; but it is better 
to let the top bud grow and pinch out all the others, if 
most of the shoots on the plant are in the same con- 
dition, than to cut them all away or severely back, 
as that must involve a severe check to the roots and 
the strength of the plant. 
I am sure it is a mistake to cut away the shoots in 
a hurry before fresh growth has shown how far the 
injury has extended. It is better to put up with 
browned and maimed foliage for a while than to risk 
destroying a shoot that may yet recover. It is 
always sad to suffer from not having ‘‘let well 
alone.” A friend of mine had a fine Wellingtonia, 
of which he was justly proud, growing near his 
house. One year, to his disgust, he found that it 
had developed two leaders; he naturally wished to 
cut one of them away, but the tree was very tall, 
and too pliable and slender at the top to bear the 
weight of a ladder. He was (and is) a capital shot 
with rifle or gun ; and having an air-gun that threw 
a bullet accurately, he determined to try to cut off 
the offending shoot with it. He rested his weapon 
on the sill of an upper window, took a very careful 
aim, and with the first shot succeeded in doing what 
he wanted—the false leader was cut off. Much 
pleased, he now noticed there was another shoot that 
had somewhat of an upward tendency, and would be 
better removed—he fired at that, with perhaps less 
care than before, and by a cruel mischance actually 
cut off the sole remaining leader ! 
