20 CULTURE OP THE ROSE. 



roses, require a proportionably closer pruning. The 

 stems may be cut down to half their length, and the 

 side-shoots shortened to two buds. All the weak-growing 

 roses, of whatever class, may be pruned with advantage 

 even more closely than this. Some of the weak-growing 

 Hybrid Perpetuals grow and bloom best when shortened 

 to within four or five buds of the earth. The strong- 

 growing kinds, on the contrary, if pruned thus severely, 

 would grow with great vigor, but give very few flowers. 



The objects of pruning are threefold: first, to invig- 

 orate the plant ; secondly, to improve its flowers ; and, 

 thirdly, to give it shape and proportion. This last object 

 should always be kept in view by the operator. No two 

 stems should be allowed to crowd each other. A mass 

 of matted foliage is both injurious and unsightly. Sun 

 and air should have access to every part of the plant. 

 Six or seven stems are the utmost that should be allowed 

 to remain, even on old established bushes ; and these, as 

 before mentioned, should be strong and well ripened, and 

 should also be disposed in such a manner, that, when the 

 buds have grown into shoots and leaves, the bush will 

 have a symmetrical form. In young bushes, three, or 

 even two, good stems are sufficient. 



Pruning in summer, when the plant is in active 



