WHEN AND HOW TO PRUNE 147 



A patient study of a favourite rose-tree will soon fix firmly in 

 the mind of the inexperienced amateur the cardinal fact that the 

 finest blooms are produced on the new wood. His aim should 

 therefore be to cherish this new wood to the best of his ability. 

 This can be done by giving light and air to the centre of the tree, 

 and to do this it is necessary to cut out all old wood absolutely, 

 if there is plenty of new wood available, and thus, by admitting 

 air, sunshine, and light, to strengthen the new growth and assist 

 in hardening and preparing the stems for another season's work. 



Many of the so-called Hybrid Perpetuals, as I have said, give 

 only one satisfactory crop of bloom. Simultaneously with its 

 production new growths start up from the base of the bush. A 

 little consideration will show that if the old shoots that have 

 already produced their flowers are cut right away the whole 

 strength of the tree will be concentrated in the new shoots, to the 

 great advantage of the plant in the following season. 



The Teas and Hybrid Teas, most of which bloom well into the 

 autumn, require different treatment. When a rose is cut from a 

 Hybrid Tea or Tea a shoot springs at once from the next bud 

 on the stem. It is a good plan when the rose is being cut, to prune 

 the shoot back somewhat. In this way a better new shoot and 

 a finer crop of second blooms can be obtained. 



