110 The Rose Garden. 



developed. There are, perhaps, not more shoots than the tree can advantageously 

 carry, but they are badly placed. Why should they not have been obtained in such 

 positions as to be of permanent benefit to the tree be made to extend its size, and 

 render less thinning necessary ? This may be done. 



A few years ago, after having pruned a number of large specimens in which I had 

 observed this error, I watched for the bursting of the buds, with the view of practising 

 disbudding. When they had shot forth about half an inch I took a knife with a sharp 

 point and commenced my search at the heart of the tree. From here I cut off, close 

 to the bark, a great number of buds, leaving only such as, from their position, 

 promised to increase the size or improve the contour of the head. If a bud was 

 pushing where there was a gap, such was left ; the others were thinned, leaving those 

 which took a lateral and outward course of growth. Proceeding upwards I cleared 

 the centre of the tree pretty freely, leaving only just so many buds as seemed neces- 

 sary to preserve it from becoming straggling. Towards the top and circumference, 

 also, the buds where crowded or likely to cross each other were removed. A month 

 after the first looking over fresh buds had broken, and thus was opened a prospect of 

 more gaps being filled, the outlines of the head being still improved and the size 

 extended. Several trees were thus treated and they were looked over again and 

 again, and the same plan followed out. The growth was in consequence more vigor- 

 ous than that of the previous year, and the flowers finer. On the fall.pf the leaf in 

 Autumn the succeeding course of action was apparent. The trees were pruned as 

 usual, and there was little mind exercised in the operation little thinnffig required - 

 no necessity to look at the tree for some minutes before one could determine where 

 to begin, which, in my early attempts, I must confess I have often done, owing to the 

 interminable interlacings of the shoots. The second and third year the same plan 

 was followed ; and the trees are now of handsome form, large and healthy, producing 

 an abundance of good flowers. It should be stated that the first year they were taken 

 in hand they were watered once a week for two months with liquid manure. The 

 sole reason for this was that the soil in which they grew had become impoverished. 



We apply the plan of disbudding to Pillar, Pyramid, and Weeping Roses ; as to 

 others, by rubbing out any buds that may appear disadvantageously situated. In the 

 youngest stage of the tree the buds left to produce flowers and flowering shoots for 

 the subsequent year should stand from four to six inches apart on the main branches ; 

 intermediate buds should be rubbed out. The laterals produced in after stages may 

 also be disbudded ; but masses of flower being the object sought here, the practice 

 should not be too freely resorted to. 



A few words on Summer Pruning, or Thinning, seem called for before closing this 

 chapter. If disbudding can be carried out there is no need of Summer Thinning ; but 

 if it cannot, then the latter practice may be followed to advantage. So soon as the 

 plants have done flowering look them carefully over, thinning out the weak unhealthy 



