ROSES 



in 



winter, therefore they are not recommended. Strong-growing varieties 

 on standards that make long, half-pendulous growths should be lightly 

 pruned, merely well thinning the centre. With climbing Roses the 

 object should be to retain all the growths of the previous summer almost 

 their entire length, removing perhaps five inches or six inches of the 

 extreme ends. During the summer and early autumn, after flowering, 

 look over the climbers, remove very old growths to the ground, and 

 jealously guard the current season's wood, when, if they are spread to 

 the right or the left in the spring, they will flower from almost every 

 eye or bud. These remarks apply especi- 

 ally to the climbing Tea and Noisette 

 Roses. The Rambler Roses should not 

 be pruned, as one may then obtain 

 glorious masses of flowers ; but this does 

 not mean that very old and dead wood 

 should not be removed. The commonest 

 climbers should be thinned. Autumn is 

 the best time for this work. Untie or 

 unnail the plants, and place them on the 

 ground so as to remove unnecessary 

 growths, then the plants may be re- 

 nailed to the wall, or tied to the arch or 

 pole. Where walls are available plant 

 the Tea and Noisette Roses against 

 them, but the Evergreen, Ayrshire, 

 Crimson Rambler, Yellow Rambler, &c., 

 are best upon arches, arbours, clamber- 

 ing up posts or stumps of trees, or throw- 

 ing their long growths over hedges, banks, 

 or any similar positions. A beautiful way 

 of growing some of these Roses is as 

 isolated specimens ; let them grow as the 

 wild Roses in the hedges. 



Watering and Syringing. Instead 

 of using so much patent manure use the 

 hoe more frequently, and keep three 



inches or four inches of the surface soil loose. This considerably 

 counteracts drought; it allows the air to penetrate the soil, and 

 admits the warm rays of the sun. Always hoe after rain, at each 

 artificial watering, and use the syringe freely to cleanse the foliage. 

 When the garden is near a large town sponge the foliage now 

 and then, but avoid wetting the leaves during bright sunshine. 

 Syringe early in the morning, before seven o'clock. The city man 

 as well as the artisan will find the work among Roses a delightful 

 occupation, especially before breakfast. When hoeing is constantly 

 practised Roses will not as a rule require artificial watering before the 

 flower-buds appear, except in very dry springs, and then water only 

 newly-planted kinds. It is when foliage is ample and almost fully ex- 

 panded that the roots take up most moisture. The best time to water 



STRONG GROWING ROSE ; LEAVE 

 SHOOTS ALMOST INTACT 



