146 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



a free circulation of light and air. Where pruning was not done 

 in the autumn it may be advisable in March to cut out a few old 

 shoots from the centre of the tree, as shown in the small diagram 

 (No. 11). This represents a climber that has been planted two 

 years. The removal of the old wood will promote a more vigorous 

 growth in the stems that are retained. 



Simultaneously with the operation of pruning, especially if it 

 be done in the autumn, it will be found advisable to train the new 

 shoots in the desired direction. In my own garden most of the 

 climbing roses are growing by the side of high wooden fences, 

 and I find that the best method of tying is obtained by drawing 

 long strands of stout wire from one end of the fences to the other. 

 The shoots are trained horizontally, and arc tied securely to the 

 wire with thick twine. By this simple method a great deal of 

 work with hammer and nails is avoided ; the climbers always 

 present a tidy appearance, and the blank spaces of wooden fence 

 are covered with greater rapidity. 



It should always be remembered in regard to the pruning of 

 all classes of roses that the weakest growths must be pruned more 

 severely than the strong ones. The reason is obvious, for the 

 effect of pruning is to produce more vigorous growth from the 

 base of the shoot thus treated. Thus and thus only can satis- 

 factory blooms be ensured. 



After pruning is over, the manure which was spread over the 

 beds in the autumn should be lightly forked in below the surface. 

 This will have the double effect of fertilising the soil and of allow- 

 ing air to penetrate it. 



There can be no two opinions about the beneficent effect of a 

 judicious summer pruning of rose-trees. While the bushes and 

 the standards are full of glorious bloom one may be tempted to 

 rest satisfied with the visible reward of many months of care and 

 labour, but the true rosarian is he who is ever studying the future 

 welfare of his trees. He has, by past experience, proved the 

 value of keeping rampant summer growth in check, and he 

 speedily learned the need for a thinning out of the shoots as soon 

 as the first flush of bloom had gone. 



