140 . CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



and transplanted for use in newer beds or on newer garden structures. 

 As with most other plants, roses at first are usually not given enough 

 room for free development and strength, for a plant grows with the 

 sky as well as with the soil. 



As soon as a rose is planted it should be given a certain amount 

 of cutting back, shortening a lot of side branches which are weak and 

 unpromising, to a single bud near the stem, from which they may make 

 a new break; removing some of the side branches which may be 

 starting too near each other to grow well; cutting back near to the 

 root some of the main stems, when there are too many. No exact 

 rule can be given for the number of stems to retain at planting. It 

 may be three if the growth is strong and the root large; it may be only 

 one and that shortened, if the plant has a weak look. If one must have 

 a rule, until he fully learns that there really cannot be one, let him cut 

 away half the top if the nurseryman sends him the bush just as it 

 has grown. Later he will learn to cut back according to the look of 

 the plant and what he knows of the variety. 



CULTIVATION AND CARE OF THE ROSE, 



Losing sight for moment of the pruning, which will be discussed 

 later, the amateur should be assured that he should nearly always be 

 doing something for the thrift of his roses. The principles and pur- 

 poses of tillage as sketched in Chapter IV should never be forgotten; 

 the hints for work in the different months in Chapter XII should 

 always remind the grower of the rose of something. Perhaps the too 

 common belief is that if the rose is treated well during the winter it 

 may be left to shift for itself during the summer. The fact is just the 

 reverse. If the rose is treated as it ought to be in December it can 

 almost be left to shift for itself until May, but from May to December 

 it should be almost constantly under treatment. It is therefore the 

 rose of summer which depends largely upon the grower's attention 

 and care. Without this, the aspect of the dusty bushes, with their load 

 of dried bloom and foliage shriveled with mildew or tarnished with 

 orange rust, can evoke but a single thought, and that is commiseration. 

 The owner commiserates the bushes and possibly condemns them; the 

 passing rose grower commiserates or condemns the neglectful owner. 

 Plainly it is not the fault of the bushes that they have fallen into such 

 straits; how can they be helped out of them? 



It is perhaps impossible under ordinary conditions to obviate the 

 midsummer droop in condition in the rose garden, but it may be un- 

 questionably greatly mitigated. The distressful aspect of the neglected 

 garden can certainly be prevented if one has a drop of water more than 

 he needs to drink. If he has enough to wash himself in he could keep 

 quite a large plantation of roses in fair condition, providing his interest 

 and devotion prompted him to put the waste water where it would do 



