98 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL ROSE GROWING. 
the soil just moist, but not sodden: root action will then quickly 
commence. Should the weather be hot, light syringings will be 
beneficial. The plants may be placed in their winter quarters 
directly potting is complete. 
How to Prune for Bushes. 
The time of pruning must depend upon when the plants are 
desired to bloom. If the plants are to be forced into flower in 
February, pruning must be done in November, and the plants 
started in a warm house. If they are to come steadily and 
naturally into bloom in a cool house, the pruning may take place 
as soon as the buds are seen to be swelling. This, it is under- 
stood, if the plants are, as they should be if they have been out 
of doors during winter, put under glass at the time of pruning. 
It would not be safe if they were to be left out. If a start is 
being made with one year old plants, the first pruning may be 
to two buds. Inthe case of cut-backs (that is, plants which have 
been previously pruned) the shoots may be shortened, the weak- 
est to two buds, the strongest to three buds. This pruning re- 
duces the plants to mere stumps, but they soon break vigorously 
in a temperature of 45° to 55°, and become well furnished with 
shoots, foliage, and flowers. 
Plants in Bloom. 
With plenty of air in fine weather, and due attention to 
watering, pot Roses do not, as a rule, give much trouble. It 
should be noted, however, that overwatering is easy. When 
pot plants bloom in late winter or early spring the air is cool, and 
there may be very little sun. Daily watering may or may not 
be necessary. The only guide is the state of the soil, and that 
can be ascertained by rapping the pot, which will emit a hollow, 
ringing sound if the soil is dry. Syringing is good in dry 
weather. Occasionally mildew or some other fungus will attack 
the plants, or green fly may put in an appearance. In this case 
bring into play one of the various remedies mentioned in a previous 
chapter. 
After Flowering. 
The plants will be better in the open air than under glass 
during the summer, but they must not be turned out directly 
they have finished flowering if the weather is very cold, as the 
sudden change from warm quarters might do them great injury. 
When the time. does come, find them a sunny spot where they 
will be out of the way, and plunge the pots in ashes, which will 
serve the double purpose of reducing the necessity for watering 
by keeping roots and soil cool and keeping out worms. The 
plants will very likely show bud again towards autumn, but it 
is not advisable to let them bloom; therefore pick off the buds 
directly they show. 
