82 THE ROSE. 



quire severe pruning; those that are vigorous 

 in growth should have the shoots only moder- 

 ately shortened, but the branches well thinned 

 out. If varieties of vigorous habit are closely 

 pruned, a great growth ensues and very few 

 flowers ; hence it is of the utmost importance 

 to know the character of the variety that is 

 to be operated on. Besides pruning the 

 plants in March, a summer pruning is desir- 

 able with many varieties of Hybrid Perpet- 

 uals, so soon as the June blossoming is over, 

 in order to induce the formation of flower 

 buds later in the season, 



