THE ROSE GARDEN. 63 



No. 8. 



1 



Long Pruning, Stage 1 . 



here, and let us select any three which may seem most advantageously situated, 

 and imagine the others absent. We may try this experiment on different shoots, 

 if we are not satisfied with our first choice. To us the shoots shewn by the dark 

 shadowing seem best placed, and our first step is to thin out the others shewn by 

 the single lines. This renders the object clear, and, if it be one of the exciteable 

 kinds, finishes Autumn pruning. In Spring we shorten the shoots that remain 

 at the termination of the dark shadowing (a). The plant is pruned, and it may be 

 said with truth, its appearance is not improved. But the question is not, How does 

 it look when newly pruned ? for when properly pruned it often presents a sorry 

 appearance. The question is, How will it look when each of the shoots left triples 

 or quadruples itself? Many cultivators spoil their trees by pruning in fear. It is 

 well to be cautious, but it is seldom that the novice errs by pruning too much. 

 But what considerations have guided us in our operations here ? Seven shoots is 

 the greatest number that should be suffered to remain on a young plant, and, in 

 general, a less number is preferable. One or two should rise perpendicularly 

 about the centre of the tree, and round this or these all others should be regularly 

 disposed ; and the more equal and greater distances that can be contrived from 

 shoot to shoot the better. The shoots, wherever they arise, should have a tendency 

 to grow from the centre ; for if they grow towards it they will eventually cross 

 each other, forming a confused and crowded head. In the above illustration it 

 will be seen that every shoot has this tendency. 



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