CLIMBING ROSES. 71 



longer in some cases), and still insure a moderate crop 

 of flowers, it is seldom the case with the Banksian 

 Rose. 



The first season the young rods are made, or rather 

 the season after they are made, an abundance of flowers 

 can be grown from them if they are well ripened, for 

 these will put forth a cluster from every bud through- 

 out the rods, and in the following autumn (the best 

 time, I think) each of those laterals that have borne 

 flowers may be cut back to a bud or two at the base. 

 These will then bear some flowers for one season ; but 

 at the base of the leaders, and perhaps half-way up, 

 none, or but a few, will be had from those spurs after 

 this method of pruning. Nothing but pruning on the 

 long-rod plan annually will insure a full crop of 

 flowers upon this Rose ; therefore, to be successful in 

 flowering the Banksian Rose, some of the leaders must 

 be cut back nearly down to the base every season, and 

 these will give long rods annually. 



This is the proper method of pruning all Climbing 

 Roses, especially for pillars, walls, &c. ; but, as I have 

 already observed, most of these Roses may be spurred 

 in for a few seasons, although ultimately no flowers 

 will be had from towards the base of the plant, nor, 

 indeed, for half-way up the rods or leaders. When this 

 is the case renovation must be resorted to either in part 

 or entirely. In part, i.e. cut one half of the leaders quite 

 down to the base one season ; these will give strong 

 shoots, perhaps twelve or fifteen feet long; and the 

 following season cut the other half down. This do 

 every alternate season. It is the only way to insure a 

 full crop of fine flowers from the base of the plant up 

 to the top of each rod. 



Chain or Festoon Roses. — Any of the free- grow- 

 ing Roses may be employed for this purpose ; but I 

 am of opinion that the best kinds to employ are those 

 that will make strong growth and give robust spurs 

 along these rods, and which will bear flowers succes- 

 sively every season upon those cut-back spurs. And I 

 think none are better adapted for this purpose than 



