THE ROSE GARDEN. 59 



push forth ; severe weather follows ; the young shoots are frosted ; and the bloom 

 injured. This is more particularly the case with the Chinese, Noisette, Bourbon, 

 Tea-scented, and the Hybrids of these kinds, which we shall term excitable, 

 because they are quickly excited to growth. The Provence, Moss, French, Alba, 

 and others, rarely suffer from this cause, as they are not so readily affected by 

 the state of the weather. Be it remarked, however, that the quickness with which 

 buds are roused into action depends much upon how far the shoots were matured 

 the previous Autumn: the less mature the more excitable. It will be perceived, 

 then, that there is a difficulty in the way of Autumn-pruning, when applied to the 

 excitable kinds, which can only be remedied by affording them protection from 

 frost, should a mild December or January be succeeded by severe weather. But 

 this would entail great additional trouble, and cannot always be done. Let us 

 now turn to the other season. 



The chief advantage gained by deferring pruning till Spring is, that the flower- 

 shoots are placed beyond the reach of injury by frost. If, during Winter, any 

 buds push forth in unpruned Roses, it is those at the ends of the branches, and 

 they will be removed by pruning. But there is an evil attendant on this appa- 

 rent advantage. When pruning is put off till Spring, the buds placed at the 

 extremities of the shoots are often found in leaf, and in the operation we cut off 

 some inches from a shoot in this state. The tree is denuded of its leaves, and 

 thereby receives a check ; the sap, being in active motion, exudes from the fresh 

 wounds. The lower buds find themselves suddenly in contact with a great supply 

 of food, by the cutting away of the buds beyond them. There is a pause. Soon 

 one or two buds at the extremity of the pruned shoots take up the work : they 

 swell, and are developed apace, but all below remain dormant. Thus Spring- 

 pruning is unfavourable to an abundant and regular development of branches and 

 flowers, and, consequently, to the well forming of a tree. The flowers are also 

 usually produced later in the season, and of less size. 



Thus it may be said that each season has its advantages and disadvantages ; 

 but is it impossible to draw from both ? We think not ; and would strongly 

 recommend that all but the excitable hinds be pruned in Autumn : thin out these 

 at the same time, but leave the shortening of their shoots till Spring. 



For pruning Roses two instruments are necessary, a knife and a saw. The 

 knife I use is one with a straight blade: the saw is a double-toothed one, small, 

 with a handle about a foot long and a blade of rather less length : the jitoint is 

 narrow, to admit of its being easily worked among the close branches. Armed 

 with these we are ready for action ; and it is necessary to bear in mind that they 

 should be kept very sharp, in order that the work may be well done. 



In France it was formerly the practice to clip the heads of the Standard Roses 

 with shears; but I believe this practice is now abandoned there, and scissors used 

 in their stead. I have tried the latter, but find, in my hands, the knife executes 

 the work better, and more expeditiously ; although, as to the latter point, some- 



