PRUNING 



been previously noted. Nature thus provides for 



the greatest amount of sustenance going to the 



seed pod. By autumn, if blooms are not cut but 



pinched, the plant is more bushy and has perhaps 



somewhat better foliage. In the cutting of the stems 



be careful to leave enough buds below the cut on 



the shoot to provide other shoots, which will later 



in the season give more blooms. On the stronger 



varieties in the June blooming season, on a Hybrid 



Tea rose or a rose which is expected to bloom again, 



leave enough buds to give shoots for summer and 



for autumn bloom. Therefore, in such cuttings leave 



never less than two buds at the base of the shoot, 



and with very strong varieties three buds, always 



seeing that the bud is a strong one. If a long stem 



is left on the plant more flowers will be produced but 



they will not be on such stalwart stems, nor will 



they produce as fine blooms. If cutting from a 



Hybrid Perpetual, or from a rose from which no 



more bloom is expected, to cut to one bud will be 



sufficient. In this cutting of blooms, the same as 



in pruning, follow the well-known theory that on a 



weak growth you can cut farther back than on a 



strong growth. If, however, the plant is uneven in 



growth, care must be used to aid the spring pruning 



of such a plant by following out the work already 



started and cutting back harder on the stronger side. 

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