214 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
when the wood buds push, further down the stem, 
these also should be rubbed out, if dealing with a 
Rose that requires ‘‘ liberal treatment,” but not 
with one that is apt to come coarse or requires 
semi-starvation. ‘T'o take the two examples lately 
mentioned, Horace Vernet requires that all such 
wood buds should be stopped, but La France and 
Maman Cochet will be much better if they are left 
to grow. The phrase “liberal treatment,” which I 
have borrowed from the excellent catalogue of 
B. R. Cant and Sons, means that the flower can 
assimilate, and be the better for, all the sap that 
can be given it: it implies therefore the best of soil 
and manure, close pruning, rigorous thinning of 
shoots, laterals, and buds, and that the best blooms 
may be expected on maiden plants. Horace Vernet, 
Dr. Sewell and Xavier Olibo, for instance, are 
examples of varieties requiring ‘‘ liberal treatment”’ : 
while La France, Her Majesty, and Marie Rady are 
examples of Roses which will be spoiled by such 
high culture. 
A quill toothpick or knife-point is sometimes used 
for the removal of the tiny flower buds as soon as 
they can be distinguished, but finger and thumb will 
soon get expert at the work and do it mechanically. 
Be careful about delegating this operation to in- 
experienced hands. I remember a trade exhibitor 
telling me that he once thought he would employ 
some women at it. ‘‘I want you,” said he to them, 
suiting the action to the word by taking the cluster 
at the end of a shoot and rapidly removing all but 
the centre bud, “ to take off all these buds like this.”’ 
They set to work with a will, and when he came 
back some time afterwards to see how they were 
