XIV CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 347 
pushing buds and shoots of pruned H.P.s may now 
be well thinned ; the sooner it is done the better, as 
rubbing, or even cutting, out a great fat shoot leaves 
an ugly wound which bleeds a good deal for a time. 
See that the shoots left are free from pests. Pinch, 
“‘ stave,” or cut carefully back, to form finer plants, 
the first pushing buds which were inserted last year 
in the stocks, as recommended on p. 149. Indoors, 
cut back Maréchal Niel, climbing Niphetos, and the 
like, gradually as the blooms are gathered. The 
first bloom of the forced Roses will now be over, 
and liquid manure—not too strong or too cold— 
may be administered to those intended to flower a 
second time by immersing the pots. 
May.—This is the month for insect pests of all 
sorts. The only plan is to go over the whole collec- 
tion as often as possible: I have several times found 
a large caterpillar or two in the afternoon on a small 
plant which I had carefully examined in the morning. 
If a rolled leaf be simply pinched you will probably 
carefully squeeze the same leaf again half a dozen 
times; it must therefore either be picked off or un- 
rolled, and the latter plan is best. If several leaf 
sprays are curled on one shoot the enemy will be 
found in the topmost one, which probably shows the 
disfigurement least: he is working upwards towards 
the bud, and with inherited cunning leaves his 
past abodes most manifest, and artfully conceals his 
present one. Be not satisfied with a pinch unless 
you feel him “‘go squash.” Never go up and 
down without a supply of raffia about you; some- 
thing is sure to want tying: the maiden plants 
should be looked over for this purpose very fre- 
quently. Do not be satisfied with any shoot till 
