140 



The Rose Garden* 



When the central shoots of a pyramid are more vigorous than the lower and 

 surrounding ones, the latter should be pruned a fortnight before the former, which 

 will preserve the balance of strength throughout the plant. If, under those conditions, 

 all are pruned at the same time, the central shoots will, from their position, appropriate 

 to themselves an undue share of food, and the others will be impoverished. 



Immediately after pruning we draw the lower shoots downwards over the rim of 

 the pot, just beneath which a wire should pass, to which the bast may be fastened. 

 When the plants are of three or four years' growth, and have been previously trained 

 upon this plan, tier above tier of branches may be arranged, each decreasing in cir- 

 cumference in the ascent till we terminate in a point. Trained on this plan, the 



Fig. 37. POT ROSE, THREE YKARS OLD, IN BLOOM. 



plants require constant care and attention during the season of growth to keep them 

 well balanced. Strong shoots must be stopped as occasion may require, and weak 

 ones encouraged. 



A round bush is quite in character in some instances, especially for such Roses as 

 are of lowly growth. 



The plants may be trained to a face, the tallest shoots ranged at the back, the 

 others gradually decreasing in height as they approach the front. This method has 

 been successfully carried out at the various horticultural exhibitions, where only one 

 side of the plant, or at most three-quarters of it, is presented to view. 



Pruning may be applied here as elsewhere, excepting that the growth of Pot 

 Roses being usually less vigorous than that of kinds under common treatment out-of- 



