1891.] ESSAYS. 73 



l)c our endeavor every year to get rid of as much of the old wood 

 as possible, keeping the centre clear, cut with a ruthless hand, 

 particularly with old plants. The question is often asked how 

 many buds shall be left to a shoot ; our answer is, " more buds 

 can be left on each shoot in proportion as the })lant, both as a 

 variety and as an individual, is strong, and less in proportion as 

 it is weak." That is, in the case of " Mme. Isaac Pereire," for 

 example, which is a plant of remarkable vigor, the shoots should 

 be left much longer, with a much larger numl)er of buds, than 

 in such a variety as "Horace Vernet," which is a weakly 

 grower, giving perhaps but a single shoot and that one very 

 weak, and perhaps not more than two buds; therefore the gen- 

 eral habit of the variety must determine how far to cut back, 

 and how many buds to leave. " Prune to an out-looking bud ; 

 as a general rule the more a shoot is cut back the longer will be 

 the growth from the bud left at the top." We frequently find at 

 the end of the season, "an extra well-ripened shoot, almost as 

 firm as the old wood, with large buds. This is valuable, and 

 })lcnty of space should be allowed for its development, less ripe 

 shoots being removed to make room for it." All intersecting 

 shoots should be cut out, so as to leave the centre of the plant 

 with a free exposure to the air and sun, for it is among these 

 short stems that the red spider and other pests harbor in the 

 summer. 



Pruning for exhibition should be done differently, as in this 

 case our growth is for the best development of size and form. 

 As but few blooms can be expected from a single plant, the 

 number of plants of a single kind should be increased, all new 

 light wood should be cut away, and a few shoots only left of 

 extra strength and but few buds to a shoot. 



Another important point for exhibitors to remember, a few 

 weeks later in the season, is that for growing large flowers, a 

 certain amount of disl)udding must be practised. Around the 

 central flower bud, will be noticed two or three smaller buds, 

 which must be removed to throw the entire strength into the cen- 

 tral bud ; then if properly cultivated the single stem will carry 

 a splendid flower. Several applications of liquid manure not 

 too strong (about the color of weak tea), to the root of the 



