THE ROSE GARDEN. 79 



of the flowers should be cut off, unless seed is sought, and only so many eyes be 

 allowed to develope themselves in the second or summer's growth as the state of 

 the tree and the considerations before mentioned may render advisable. 



In rubbing out the buds, it is sometimes difficult to decide which to remove. 

 The tendency of a bud should be almost invariably outwards ; and in buds, as in 

 shoots, the greater distance, in moderation, they are from each other the better. 

 Should two buds threaten, when developed, to cross or crowd each other, the one 

 taking the least favourable course of growth shoidd be removed. 



I have often heard amateurs, when admiring some of the large specimens in the 

 Nurseries here, express astonishment at their prodigious size, which they attribute 

 to great age and good soil. But it must be told, that the system of pruning has as 

 much to do in this matter as the age of the trees, or the soil in which they grow. 

 The oldest of the large trees here cannot number more than twelve years, though 

 there are others much older not half the size. Often have I seen Rose trees 

 full of shoots, nearly all proceeding from the base of the head, owing principally 

 to too close pruning. When the knife is applied, whether in autumn or in spring, 

 the greater part must be removed, for there is not room enough for the whole to 

 be developed. Now, it is not the production of a number of branches I consider 

 injurious: if the tree is in a healthy and vigorous condition, this is natural and 

 advantageous. But why should they not be obtained in such positions that they 

 may be of permanent benefit to the plant — be made to extend its size, and render 

 less thinning necessary ? This may be done. 



Two years ago, after having pruned a number of large specimens, in which I 

 had observed this error, I watched for the bursting of the buds, with the view of 

 practising disbudding. When they had shot forth about half an inch, I took a 

 knife, with a sharp point, and commenced my search at the heart of the tree. 

 From here I rubbed off, close to the bark, a great number of buds, leaving 

 only such as, from their position, promised to increase the size or improve the 

 contour of the head. If a bud was pushing where there was a gap, such was 

 left ; the others were thinned, leaving those which took a lateral and outward 

 course of growth. Proceeding upwards, I cleared the centre of the tree pretty 

 freely, leaving only just so many buds as seemed necessary to preserve it from 

 becoming straggling. Towards the top and circumference, also, the buds, where 

 crowded, or likely to cross each other, were removed. A month after the first 

 looking over, fresh buds had broken, and thus was opened a prospect of more 

 gaps being filled, the outlines of the heads being still improved, and their size 

 extended. They were looked over again and again, and the same plan followed 

 out. The growth was, in consequence, more vigorous than that of the previous 

 year, and the flowers fine. On the fall of the leaf in autumn the succeeding 

 course of action was apparent. The trees were pruned as usual, and there was 

 little mind exercised in the operation — little thinning required — no necessity to 

 look at the tree for some minutes before one could determine where to begin, 



