THE ROSE GARDEN. 61 



a view to its accomplishment. Perhaps a form at the same time pleasing and 

 advantageous is that of a half oval ; for in such all the shoots and branches get a 

 due portion of air and sunlight, and the under ones are not excluded from view, 

 which they often are in round-headed trees. The varieties of spreading growth 

 are most easily brought into this form, but the principle is applicable to all. 



The next aim in Rose pruning is 



3. To secure an abundance of fine flowers. 



If the health and vigour of a tree are affected by pruning, the flowers, depending 

 so much on these conditions, must also be affected by the same operation. 



When about to prune a Rose, I first look to the name, that I may know the 

 habit and character of the variety I have to deal with. I must know whether it 

 is a summer or perpetual bloomer ; a strong or weakly grower ; and whether the 

 flowers are produced fine from low, middle, and top eyes indiscriminately, or not. 

 It is only by knowing and considering these points that we can prune with 

 accuracy, and ensure full success. 



It is an axiom in Rose pruning, that the more vigorous in habit a plant is, the 

 more shoots should be thinned out, and the less should those which are left be 

 shortened in. This has in view, in particular, the production of flowers in the most 

 perfect condition. The eyes near the base of those kinds which form short shoots 

 (especially the Autumnals), usually produce the best flowers ; and in the vigorous 

 growers we prefer, for the same reason, the eyes about the middle of the shoot, or 

 nearer its summit if the wood be well ripened. But there is a question arising 

 here which it may be well to glance at before proceeding further. All Roses 

 make two growths in the year ; first in Spring, and again in Summer shortly after 

 they have flowered. Some of the Autumnals start afresh at short intervals 

 throughout Summer and Autumn ; but we wish at the present time to speak of the 

 Spring and Summer's growth only, and to ask which we should look to as calcu- 

 lated to produce the finest flowers. 



When the shoots formed in Summer are well ripened we should .prefer them, 

 and for these reasons. The growth at that season is generally more rapid, and, in 

 consequence, the shoots, although usually of less strength, are freer in the bark ; 

 the eyes are more plump and prominent, and well stored with the juices required 

 to supply nourishment and promote growth. Nevertheless, it is only a question 

 of flowers that would induce us to prefer the Summer wood ; for when we look 

 to the forming of the tree, we shall find it necessary, in most cases, to prune back 

 to the growth of Spring, to keep the form elegant. Still it is well to bear in mind 

 that the wood grown during Summer usually produces the finest flowers, that we 

 may make the best of the materials beneath our hand ; for it does sometimes 

 happen that we may prune to the Summer's growth with advantage to the tree, 

 and it is often a matter of indifference whether we do so or not. 



With these remarks on pruning in general, we proceed to consider it in its 

 special application, under the following heads, as applied to Standards and Dwarfs 



(Div. I.) » 



