EXHIBITING ROSES 87 



kept out of reach of the others, as there is danger of the 

 buds being spoiled by an accidental scratch or bruise from 

 another shoot being blown against them. The plants 

 themselves are best grown in parallel rows, with a good 

 space between each row, not less than two feet, and a 

 similar distance should be left between each plant in the 

 rows. Between each pair of rows a 3 foot space 

 should be left, that the Roses may be attended to without 

 fear of injury. They will need plenty of attention, and 

 will be the better for a liberal supply of manure, either 

 farmyard or chemical. Mr Sanders gives a good 

 formula for the latter three pounds of superphosphate 

 of lime and one pound of nitrate of potash. Of this one 

 ounce should be dissolved in a gallon of water, and a 

 gallon given to each plant once a week from the time 

 when the buds form. Soot-water as an alternative to 

 this every other week is even better. 



The pruning of the Hybrid Perpetual and Hybrid Tea 

 classes should be done in March, and should begin pretty 

 early in the month. The strongest and most ripened 

 shoots are those to select, and from three to six of these, 

 according to the size and strength of the plant, should 

 be left. In the case of Hybrid Perpetuals, they should 

 be shortened to about 3 to 6 inches, but the stronger 

 varieties of the Hybrid Teas may be left a little longer. 



These latter should be left to the end of the month, 

 or even the beginning of April, and it will often be found 

 that the Winter, if severe, has done most of the selecting of 

 shoots already, and when the dead wood is cut away most 

 of the shoots which remain are quite as short as need be. 



When, after this pinning, the young shoots begin to 

 appear, it is wise not to be in too great a hurry to thin 

 them to the final number. Late frosts and cold winds 

 do a good deal of thinning on their own account, and it 

 may be necessary to substitute a weaker shoot for a 

 strong one which has been destroyed in its youth. 



