154 CULTURE OP THE ROSE. 



only allowed to remain, which forming strong branches, will set 

 closely to the wall and preserve a neat appearance. 



The production of roses out of season, by forcing, was, as we 

 have shown, well known to the ancient Romans, and from them 

 has been handed down to the present time. But the retarding 

 of roses by means of a regular process of pruning, owes its origin 

 to a comparatively modern date. This process is mentioned both 

 by Lord Bacon and Sir Robert Boyle. The latter says, " It is 

 delivered by the Lord Verulam, and other naturalists, that if a 

 rose bush be carefidly cut as soon as it is done bearing in the 

 summer, it will again bear roses in the autumn. Of this many 

 have made unsuccessful trials, and thereupon report the affirma- 

 tion to be false ; yet I am very apt to think, that my lord was 

 encouraged by experience to write as he did. For, having been 

 particularly solicitous about the experiment, I find by the relation, 

 both of my own, and other experienced gardeners, that this way 

 of procuring autumnal roses, will, in most rose-bushes, commonly 

 fail, but succeed in some that are good bearers ; and, accordingly, 

 having this summer made trial of it, I find that of a row of 

 bushes cut in June, by far the greater number promise no 

 autumnal roses ; but one that hath manifested itself to be of a 

 vigorous and prolific nature, is, at this present, indifferently well- 

 stored with those of the damask kind. There may, also, be a 

 mistake in the species of roses ; for experienced gardeners inform 

 me that the Musk-Rose will, if it be a lusty plant, bear flowers 

 in autumn without cutting ; and, therefore, that may unjustly 

 be ascribed to art, which is the bare production of nature." 

 Thus, in quaint and ancient style, discourseth the wise and pious 

 philosopher, on our favorite flower, and also mentions the fact, 

 that a red rose becomes white, on being exposed to the fumes of 

 sulphur. This, however, had been observed before Sir Robert's 

 time. Notwithstanding his doubts, it is now a well-established fact, 

 that the blooming of roses may be retarded by cutting them back 

 to two eyes after they have fairly commenced growing, and the 

 flower buds are discoverable. A constant succession can be ob- 

 tained, where there is a number of plants, by cutting each one 



