OUTDOOR ROSE GROWING 



over at least once. Persons having trouble with 

 their eyes should be very careful to use their glasses 

 in this work, as more minute attention is required 

 than one would think. The foregoing suggestions 

 apply mainly to a large amount of pruning, but even 

 where the plants are few it would perhaps be best to 

 employ this method, as the operation would certainly 

 be much more comfortable. In all pruning a pair of 

 heavy gloves will be found a necessary protection. 



In the autumn the only pruning necessary is to 

 cut down the bushes so that the fibrous feeding 

 roots will not be broken by the thrashing about of 

 the tops hi the heavy winter winds. It is quite 

 easy to cut down to an approximate height until 

 the early spring pruning, and when the plants have 

 done blooming and the frost has set in severely we 

 would suggest that they be cut to an approximate 

 height of one foot and a half, except in strongest 

 growing kinds and climbers. Do not cut to less. The 

 buds liable to break are upper buds, and if forced 

 in a warm, late autumn or early spring, after break- 

 ing they will certainly winter kill. If left short there 

 are not enough buds remaining below to carry out 

 the scheme of pruning; if left longer, no harm is done. 



Under pruning it is well to include the cutting of 

 the bloom. This is a part of rose culture which is 

 usually neither considered nor understood. It is 



120 



