80 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



which, in my early attempts, I must confess I have often done, owing to the in- 

 terminable interfacings of the shoots. The second and third year the same plan 

 was followed, and the trees are now of handsome form, large and healthy, pro- 

 ducing an abundance of good flowers. It should be stated that the first year 

 they were taken in hand they were watered once a-week for two months with 

 liquid manure. The sole reason for this was that the soil in which they grew had 

 become impoverished. 



We apply the plan of disbudding to Pillar and Weeping Roses as to others, by 

 rubbing out any buds that may appear disadvantageously situated. In the 

 youngest stage of the tree, the buds left to produce flowers and flowering shoots 

 for the subsequent year should stand about six inches apart on the main branches : 

 intermediate buds should be rubbed out. The laterals produced in after stages 

 may also be disbudded; but, masses of flower being the object sought here, the 

 practice should not be too freely resorted to. 



A few words on Summer Pruning, or Thinning, seem called for before closing 

 this chapter. If disbudding can be carried out, there is no need of summer 

 thinning; but if it cannot, then the latter practice may be followed to advantage. 

 So soon as the plants have done flowering, look them carefully over, thinning out 

 the weak, unhealthy shoots, and even some of the stout and healthy ones, where 

 they approach each other too nearly : each shoot left should stand free and ex- 

 posed on every side. It is surprising to see how stout and firm the shoots become, 

 and how the leaves increase in size after summer thinning. 



The Summer kinds submitted to this treatment usually continue their growth by 

 the elongation of the main shoots, the buds in the axils of the leaves remaining 

 dormant; but with the Autumnals, the buds push forth the entire length of the 

 shoots, and the second flowering is complete. The trees are improved in both 

 cases, for the shoots grown at this period of the year will produce the finest 

 flowers in the subsequent season. 



