104 



The Rose Garden. 



drooping form is given to the tree. Sometimes, also, the shoots are tied in to the 

 stem with bast or tar-twine, or fastened down to pegs driven into the ground. 



Fig. 26 shows a Weeping Rose of full size, pruned and trained. 



TRAILING ROSES. In many gardens there are banks and odd corners where 

 trailing roses may be effectively planted, and the Wichuraiana are most effective for 

 this purpose. They, however, require very little pruning, merely the removal of any 

 over rampant or superabundant branches. 



After a Rose tree, of whatever form or kind, is put into the desired shape, suppos- 

 ing it to be healthy and vigorous, we prune so as to increase its size every successive 

 year. This must be done with the vigorous growing kinds, or they are over-pruned. 

 It should be done with the moderate growers ; for, as the roots extend their growth 



Fig. 26. WEEPING ROSE, Complete. 



and the stem increases in size the plant is capable of supporting a larger head and 

 perfecting a greater quantity of flowers. This increase of size must be accomplished 

 by thinning. Thin out well then, leaving shoots at the farthest limit of the plant that 

 you can, to allow of its being well furnished from base to summit. 



In pruning Roses that have attained to some age, it may be necessary to remove 

 an old branch or two 'occasionally to keep the head from becoming straggling or mis- 

 shapen. As soon as any branch shows symptoms of decline it should be cut out. 

 The saw will be found useful here, as well as in removing small shoots which from 

 their position it may be difficult to reach with the pruning-knife ; also for cutting 

 "away dead branches, which should never be done with the knife, because it takes away 

 the edge. In all cases where the saw is used for cutting live wood the cut should 

 be made nearly close and afterwards pared down with the pruning-knife. 



A few remarks on old plants which have been neglected in the early stages 01 



