CUT-FLOWER CROPS 247 



roots will be injured. After a heavy rain, the soil should 

 be loosened as soon as it is in a condition to be worked.' 

 Outgrowths from stock should be watched for and im- 

 mediately cut off, as they sap the vitality of the budded 

 section. Outgrowths may be recognized by the wrinkled 

 foliage and the prickly character of the stems. 



304. Syringing and watering. An abundant supply 

 of water is invaluable in the rose garden, for nothing pre- 

 serves the foliage in as healthy a condition as a vigorous 

 spraying every bright morning. It not only keeps the 

 foliage fresh and firm, but it retards the spread of insects. 



305. Cutting the flowers and fruits. The flowers 

 should be cut daily, care being taken to leave one or two 

 outward-pointing buds at the base of the stem. As a rule, 

 the more flowers cut, the more are produced. Faded 

 flowers should be carefully removed, and no seed pods 

 allowed to develop, for the production of seeds saps the 

 plant's vitality. This applies more especially to the 

 hybrid perpetuals and hybrid teas. Rosa rugosa, R. 

 setigera, R. Carolina and other species, however, produce 

 an abundance of fruit which remains on the bushes during 

 the early winter. These are most attractive, and in such 

 cases, the fruits should be allowed to develop. 



306. Disbudding roses. - - Many hybrid perpetual 

 varieties have a tendency to produce flowers in clusters, 

 and the buds open at different periods. If all are allowed 

 to develop, the center flower should be removed as soon 

 as it is mature ; it is better to remove some of the weaker 

 buds early in their development, allowing only two or 

 three to develop in a cluster. The teas and the hybrid 

 teas are more satisfactory if all side buds are removed and 

 only a single flower on each stem is allowed to develop. 



307. Shading. There is a tendency in some varieties 



