PRUNING ROSES. 95 



merely say that those Roses which make long and 

 flexible shoots may be pruned in less closely, and those 

 that make less growth must be cut in closer, such as 

 the old Coupe d'Hebe, Chenedole, Celine, &c. ; which 

 are Hybrid Chinas, strong growers, and are samples of 

 those which must not be pruned in too much ; but the 

 Hybrid Perpetuals, Chinas, Tea Chinas, and Grallicas 

 or French Roses, may be cut in much closer. 



Now some will perhaps ridicule the idea of my refer- 

 ring to such old Roses as the above, and ask, Why 

 not mention some newer sorts ? To this I may fairly 

 answer, Because I am convinced that the old are 

 better. I know that it is one thing to fancy that all 

 new things are best because they are new, but it is 

 quite another thing to prove this and also to find it so 

 by comparison. I am quite convinced that none of 

 the new Roses can excel, if they can equal, the Coupe 

 d'Hebe, Chenedole, Brennus, William Jesse, the old 

 Crested Provence, &c. All of these are strong and 

 vigorous growers and must not be pruned much, except 

 the last, which may be pruned moderately. But if such 

 as the first four are pruned or cut back too much, no 

 flowers will be obtained. c Too much ! ' some will ex- 

 claim, < What is too much ? ' Well, these Roses must 

 not be cut in closer than from nine inches to one foot six 

 inches within the base of the new wood, and some, such 

 as the Brennus, Chenedole, &c., must be pruned but 

 little, indeed, merely taking a few inches off the points 

 of the strong shoots will be enough. 



It is safer not to prune some Roses at all than to 

 prune them too severely. Marechal Niel, for instance, 

 although we know it to be a fast-growing climber, will 

 not bear severe pruning, and flowers of this class must 



