90 The Rose Garden. 



In France it was formerly the practice to clip the heads of the Standard Roses 

 with shears ; but this practice is now abandoned there, and scissors are used in their 

 stead. I have tried the latter, but find, in my hands, the knife executes the work 

 better, and more expeditiously ; although, as to the latter point, something may 

 depend on use. The scissors are, however, very convenient for gathering flowers, 

 and for cutting off the flower-stalks when they grow shabby, or begin to decay. 



There are three principal ends sought in Rose-pruning, each of which should be 

 kept distinctly in view ; and let it be borne in mind, that on the judicious use of the 

 pruning-knife their perfect accomplishment more or less depends : they are 



1. To maintain a plant or tree in full health and vigour. 



2. To induce it to assume a form at once agreeable to the eye and advantageous 

 for the development and display of its blossoms. 



3. To secure an abundance of good flowers. 



1. To maintain a plant or tree in full health and vigour. 



We are told that the extraordinary vigour and beauty of some plants on which 

 goats had been browsing first gave the ancients the idea of pruning. Certainly no 

 one in the present day would dispute the advantages of it. Cultivators can only be 

 at variance as to the mode of action, aud the season at which the operation should be 

 performed. If we leave a Rose-tree unpruned for one year, a great number of buds 

 will burst forth, producing a vast quantity of blossoms, but both shoots and flowers 

 will be comparatively thin and puny. If such tree be left unpruned for two or three 

 successive years, it will become greatly enfeebled ; the ends of the yearling shoots 

 will die back for want of nourishment, and thus are reduced the number of buds 

 capable of development during the subsequent year. Here we see one end of pruning 

 naturally accomplished. But it is not sufficiently so. The flowers continue to 

 degenerate till at length they can scarcely be recognised ; the tree dwindles, presents 

 an unhealthy appearance, and pruning must be the first means applied for its 

 restoration. 



2. To induce a plant or tree to assume a form at once agreeable to the eye and 

 advantageous for the development and display of its fiowers. 



The formation of a tree is a point deserving of the closest attention ; for if the 

 form is inelegant it cannot but displease, however healthy and vigorous the tree 

 may be, or whatever the degree of beauty of the flowers it produces. Should the 

 latter be forming small, their size may be increased by lessening their number, or by 

 a timely application of manure-water ; but for the improvement of the form of the 

 tree there is no such ready remedy. The flowers, too, are but transitory, the shape 

 of the tree is lasting ; it remains to view after they are gone. To form a handsome 

 tree it is necessary to take it in hand when young : it is then easy to fashion, as 

 taste or a view to its permanent welfare may require. But if it has become straggling 

 from unskilful management or other causes, it is often difficult to remodel, sometimes 



