PRUNING 



year when the buds commence to break; even in 

 climates where there is no frost, roses will have a 

 dormant season, and just before the buds begin to 

 break will be the proper time to prune in these local- 

 ities. Usually in such climates the dormant season 

 of the rose is the time during which it does not get 

 any water, that is, during the dry season. With the 

 return of the rains the dormant plant commences 

 further growth. This refers, of course, to climates 

 in which there is practically no winter, i.e., no frost. 

 In the spring pruning it will sometimes be found 

 that canes of the weaker varieties have died back 

 after a very severe winter to a smaller number of 

 buds than above noted or given in the lists, though 

 these exceptions should be rare. If the wood has 

 died back to any extent it will be necessary to prune 

 to the first good bud or eye below the winter-killed 

 portion without reference to the number of buds, 

 even if the cane is shorter than that left by the 

 usual system. This information is a general working 

 rule. There are some few varieties which, on account 

 of their peculiar growth, should receive special treat- 

 ment, and to cover this point thoroughly the number 

 of eyes to which each should be pruned is given in 

 the lists, the number referring to the strongest canes; 

 on the weaker ones, of course, cut to a less number 



of eyes. 



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