88 The Rose Garden. 



little disposition to flower ; others from too little pruning produce abundance of 

 flowers but they are poor in quality. These are known facts of every-day occurrence, 

 and what are the consequences ? Probably the varieties are condemned as worthless 

 though of first-rate merit arid, other conditions being favourable, only require a skilful 

 application of the knife to ensure perfect flowers in rich abundance. 



But it is not a question of flowers only. On pruning depends the formation of 

 the trees ; whether they be handsome or irregular and misshapen. Regarding this 

 branch of cultivation, then, as one of primary importance, I shall give myself full scope 

 in discussing and illustrating it. 



There are two seasons of the year at which pruning is usually performed ; Novem- 

 ber, which is termed Autumn pruning, and March or Spring pruning. Winter prun- 

 ing cannot be recommended, as there is a risk of the trees being injured by the action 

 of wet and frost upon the fresh wounds. Thinning in summer is advocated by some, 

 and of this we shall have occasion to speak by and bye. 



Which is the better season for pruning, Spring or Autumn, is a point concerning 

 which rose-cultivators are not altogether agreed. To enable our readers to judge 

 for themselves it may be well to state the condition of the trees at each season. 



In November Roses may be said to be at rest, for although there is always a 

 circulation of the sap, at this particular time it is less active than in Spring or 

 Summer. 



As a proof of this, if we remove a Rose in Autumn the roots are then to all 

 appearance inactive ; but if we remove the same in March, or often indeed earlier, we 

 shall find numerous white rootlets which have been newly formed, and which, sponge- 

 like, are continually sucking moisture from the earth, thereby favouring the circula- 

 tion of the sap, and promoting growth. Hence the different state of a tree in Autumn 

 and Spring is, that at the former period it is sinking into or at rest, and in the latter 

 rising into life and action. Now, it is evident that the greater quantity of nutritive 

 matter that can be collected in the immediate vicinity of the buds intended to remain 

 for bloom the more vigorous will the growth be and the larger the flowers. Autumn- 

 pruning favours this storing of the juices of the plants ; for by thinning-out the super- 

 fluous shoots in Autumn, and shortening the others, the buds on those left behind are 

 placed in contact with a greater supply of food by the shortening of the channels 

 through which the sap has to pass, the buds increase in size, become plump, and when 

 Spring arrives vegetate with great vigour. By this practice an earlier bloom is also 

 produced than when pruning is deferred till Spring, the shoots are formed with more 

 regularity, and the flowers developed in greater abundance. 



It may be said that many of the Summer kinds being more disposed to produce 

 growing than flowering shoots, Autumn pruning is calculated to favour this tendency. 

 True, and to counteract this the operation should be performed with less rigour at 

 that season than when deferred till Spring 



