58 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



every day occurrence ; and what are the consequences ? Probably the varieties 

 are condemned as worthless, though of first-rate merit, and only requiring a 

 skilful application of the knife to cause them to flower perfect, and in gorgeous 

 abundance. 



But it is not a question of flowers only. On pruning depends the formation of 

 the trees ; whether they be handsome, or irregular and misshapen. Regarding 

 this branch of cultivation, then, as one of primary importance, I shall give myself 

 full scope in discussing and illustrating it. 



There are two seasons of the year at which pruning is usually performed ; 

 November, which is termed Autumn-pruning; and March, or Spring-pruning. 

 Winter-pruning cannot be recommended, as there is a risk of the trees being 

 injured by the action of wet and frost upon the fresh wounds. Thinning in 

 Summer is advocated by some ; and of this we shall have occasion to speak by and 

 bye. 



Which is the better season for pruning, Spring or Autumn, is a point concerning 

 which Rose-cultivators are not altogether agreed. To enable our readers to judge 

 for themselves, it may be well to state the condition of the trees at each season. 



In November, Roses may be said to be at rest; for although there is always a 

 circulation of the sap, at this particular time it is less active than in spring or 

 Summer. 



As a proof of this, if we remove a Rose in Autumn, the roots are then, to all 

 appearance, inactive; but if we remove the same in March, or often, indeed ? 

 earlier, we shall find numerous white rootlets, which have been newly formed, and 

 which, sponge-like, are continually sucking moisture from the earth, thereby 

 favouring the circulation of the sap, and promoting growth. Hence the different 

 state of a tree in Autumn and Spring is, that at the former period it is sinking into 

 or at rest; and in the latter rising into life and action. Now, it is evident, that the 

 greater quantity of nutritious matter that can be collected in the immediate 

 vicinity of the buds intended to remain for bloom, the more vigorous will the 

 growth be, and the finer the flowers. Autumn-pruning favours this storing of the 

 juices of the plants; for by cutting away the superfluous shoots in Autumn, the 

 buds on those left behind are placed in contact with a greater supply of food, by 

 the lessening of the number of the channels through which the sap has to pass : 

 they increase in size, become plump, and, when Spring arrives, vegetate with great 

 vigour. An earlier bloom is also produced than when pruning is deferred till 

 Spring; and the shoots and flowers are formed with more regularity, and in 

 greater abundance. It may, however, appear, that many of the Summer kinds, 

 being more disposed to produce growing than flowering-shoots, Autumn-prunin" - 

 is calculated to favour this tendency. But, to counteract this, the operation 

 should be performed with less rigour at that season than when deferred till Spring. 



But Autumn-pruning has its disadvantages, the greatest of which is this : — A 

 few mild days in Winter often excite the buds of Autumn-pruned Roses, and they 



