Pruning. 89 



But Autumn-pruning has its disadvantages, the greatest of which is this : A few 

 mild days in Winter often excite the buds of Autumn-pruned Roses, and they push 

 forth ; severe weather follows, the young shoots are frosted, and the bloom injured. 

 This is more particularly the case with the Chinese, Noisette, Bourbon, Tea-scented, 

 and the Hybrids of these kinds, which we shall term excitable because they are 

 quickly excited to growth. The Provence, Moss, French, Alba, and others, rarely 

 suffer from this cause as they are not so readily affected by the state of the weather. 

 Be it remarked, however, that the quickness with which buds are roused into action 

 depends much upon how far the shoots were matured the previous Autumn ; the 

 less matured the more excitable. It will be perceived, then, that there is a difficulty 

 in the way of Autumn pruning, when applied to the excitable kinds, which can hardly 

 be remedied by affording them protection from frost should a mild December or 

 January be succeeded by severe weather. But this protection if afforded would entail 

 great additional trouble, and cannot always be done. Let us now turn to the other 

 season. 



The chief advantage gained by deferring pruning till Spring is, that the coming 

 flower-shoots are placed beyond the reach of injury by frost. If during winter any 

 buds push forth in unpruned Roses, it is those at the end of the branches, and they 

 will be removed by pruning. But there is an evil attendant on this apparent 

 advantage. When pruning is put off till Spring, the buds placed at the extremities 

 of the shoots are often found in leaf, and in the operation we cut off some inches 

 from a shoot in this state. The tree is denuded of its leaves, and thereby receives a 

 check. The sap, being in active motion, exudes from the fresh wounds. The lower 

 buds find themselves suddenly in contact with a great supply of food, by the cutting 

 away of the buds beyond them. There is a pause. Soon one or two buds at the 

 extremity of the pruned shoots take up the work : they swell, are developed apace, 

 but all below remain dormant ! Thus Spring-pruning is unfavourable to an abundant 

 and regular development of branches and flowers, and, consequently, to the well 

 forming of a tree. The flowers are also usually produced later in the season, and 

 of less size. 



Thus it may be said that each season has its advantages and disadvantages. But 

 is it impossible to draw from both ? We think not ; and would strongly recommend 

 that all but the excitable kinds be pruned in Autumn ; thin out the excitable at the same 

 time, but leave the shortening of their shoots till spring. 



For pruning Roses two instruments are necessary, a knife and a saw. The knife 

 I use is one with a straight blade : the saw is a double-toothed one, small, with a 

 handle about a foot long and a blade of rather less length ; the point is narrow, to 

 admit of its being easily worked among the close branches. Armed with these we 

 are ready for action ; and it is necessary to bear in mind that they should be kept 

 very sharp in order that the work may be well done. 



