THE ROSE GARDEN. 75 



a shoot not terminated with flowers, at whatever season it may he developed. Of 

 these, we may give Coquette de Montmorency and Pompon de St. Radegond, 

 (Bourbon Perpetuals), as examples ; and be it remarked that a rich soil is found 

 as indispensable a condition for their well-doing as close pruning. 



Close priming, when applied to trees in a weakly condition, has great reno- 

 vating power. I recollect well, when pruning some Roses in pots, noticing a 

 plant of Archduke Charles (Chinese) in a very bad state. It had produced 

 such puny flowers, that, during the flowering season, I more than once doubted 

 whether the variety was Archduke Charles. The stock was hide-bound— i.e. 

 had ceased to swell — and the shoots were stunted and scrubby. The latter were 

 all thinned out but three, two of which were shortened in to three eyes. The re- 

 maining one, which was the strongest, was shortened in to one eye. The plant 

 was afterwards treated as the others. The single eye on the strong shoot was de- 

 veloped with surprising vigour, and in the ensuing autumn I found the hide-bound 

 bark was burst asunder by the swelling of the stock, and beneath a new bark was 

 forming. The plant gradually improved, and is now as healthy as any in the 

 collection. 



To do justice to the Autumnal Roses, they should be pruned a second time in 

 summer, just after flowering; or, if the summer flowers are not much regarded, 

 just before flowering, by which their vigour and beauty will be increased. 



The tender kinds, such as the Chinese and Tea-scented, are not unfrequently 

 severely injured by frost. When this is the case, all the dead wood must be cut 

 away ; and I have pruned them level with the ground, and obtained an abundant 

 flowering. Necessity, however, urged this, rather than prudence. A too vigo- 

 rous growth not unfrequently arises from it, followed by its evil consequences, of 

 late flowering only, unripened wood, and great susceptibility of frost. 



It may be thought that root-pruning might be applied with advantage to those 

 Roses which we choose to designate shy bloomers. I have not made the experi- 

 ment ; but think if a root or two of such kinds as Fulgens, Beauty of Billiard, 

 Blairii, Wo. 2, and others of the Hybrid Chinese, were cut early in autumn, 

 it might counteract the evils arising from improper pruning. 



There are some Roses which, although at times very beautiful, do not in general 

 expand their flowers. From some cause, which has been said to be too great a 

 degree of fulness, the buds remain sealed at the top till they drop from decay. 

 Examples of such are — Duchesse de Nemours, Melanie Cornu, (Hybrid Per- 

 petuals), and Reine des Beiges, Princesse Helene du Luxembourg, (Tea- 

 scented). On the Continent many of these take rank as the first of Rose-; : 

 they are also excellent with us when grown in the forcing-house. Too much 

 moisture, combined with great heat or cold, favours this tendency to fall prema- 

 turely, if it does not give rise to it, and thus the seasons have a great influence 

 over these kinds. But another favouring circumstance is, too great a degree of 

 vigour in the plant. The first cause is evident. Let us illustrate the second. 



o2 



