CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 31 



and fastened down by means of strong wooden pegs, suffi- 

 ciently stout to last the season, and to retain the branches 

 in their proper positions. Care must be taken that the 

 branches do nx>t split off at the base ; but the operator will 

 soon perceive which is the best and easiest mode of bend- 

 ing the tree to his wishes. Many shoots will spring up 

 from the base of the plants, too strong to produce summer 

 blooms ; but most of them will gratify the cultivator with 

 such noble flowers in the autumn that will delight the 

 heart of any lover of this queen of flowers. These branch- 

 es will be the groundwork for the next year. I have 

 recently been engaged in cutting all the old wood away 

 which last season did such good duty, and am now fur- 

 nished with an ample supply of shoots from four to eight 

 feet high, which, if devoid of leaves, would strongly remind 

 me of fine raspberry-canes, and which, by their appearance, 

 promise what they will do for the forthcoming season. I 

 would suggest that these long shoots should now be merely 

 bundled together, and a stake put to each plant, so as to 

 prevent their being injured by the wind. In this state let 

 them remain until the latter end of March, and then pro- 

 ceed as I have before mentioned. I feel convinced, that, 

 when this method of pegging-down and dwarfing strong- 

 growing roses becomes generally known, many of the 

 justly esteemed and valuable robust show varieties will 

 occupy the position in our flower-gardens they are justly 

 entitled to." 



