642 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



decayed ones cut off, lay them out horizontally with the hand, so that they 

 radiate all round the stem ; and while the tree is firmly held in its proper 

 place, sprinkle the compost over them gradually, pressmg it gently into the 

 roots ; the hole being filled up, so as to form a slight mound round the stem, 

 and a coating of mulch placed over all, taking care that the crown of the 

 stock is level with the surface of the mound, neither planted too deep nor too 

 shallow. Drive a stake of sufficient strength into the ground, and tie the stock 

 firmly to it, in such a way, however, as to avoid galling the stem. Where the 

 rose-tree is planted on a lawn, the turf is neatly replaced, and the mulching 

 rendered inoffensive to the sight by a covering of moss, held in its place by a 

 neat layer of pebbles arranged round the stem : whether in beds or otherwise, 

 standards should never be nearer than three feet to each other. 



C004. In order to obtain large standard rose-trees, ''a judicious system of 

 pruning, which tends to increase the size, is necessary," says Mr. Paul. 

 "Having pruned some large specimens, I watched for the bursting of the 

 buds, with the view of practising disbudding. When they had shot foi-th 

 about half an inch, I took a knife with a sharp point, and commenced my 

 seaixh at the heart of the tree. From here I rubbed off a great number of 

 buds close to the bark, leaving such only as, from their position, promised to 

 increase the size or improve the colours of the head. If a bud were pushing 

 where there was a gap, or which had a lateral or outward growth, it was left ; 

 the others thinned out. Proceeding upwards, I cleared the centre of the tree 

 pretty freely towards the top and circumference ; and the buds, where crowded 

 or likely to cross each other, were removed. A month later they were looked 

 over again, — and this was done again and again, watering them once a 

 week during the gi-owing season with liquid manure, the soil in which they 

 grew having become impoverished. The growth was, in consequence, more 

 vigorous than in the previous year, and the flowers fine. On the fall of the 

 leaf in autumn, the trees were pruned as usual ; little thinning was required. 

 The second and third year the same plan was followed, and the trees are now 

 of handsome form, large, and healthy, producing an abundance of good 

 flowers." By pursuing this practice, and not by age and soil alone, some of 

 the large trees which surprise the visitors to their nursery have been produced ; 

 '' for the oldest tree," he tells us, " cannot number more than twelve years, 

 while there are others much older and not half the size." 



C005. The first aim of the cultivator is, of course, to establish the tree. 

 Immediately after plantingf Mr. Paul directs the head to be pruned more or less 

 severely, according to the kind of rose ; but closer now than at any sub- 

 sequent pruning. In long pruning, which is applied to the more vigorous- 

 gi'owing roses, supposing it budded on his plan, and to have seven shoots, 

 four of these are to be cut away, selecting those for cutting out, which grow 

 from the centre. In spring the three shoots left are shortened in to a half or a 

 third of their length, leaving the lowest on the tree longest, where practicable. 

 In the autumn the shoots will have increased greatly ; ''pruning," Mr. Paul 

 adds, "is now more complicated. The operator should examine the tree 



