36 THE HISTORY AND CULTIVATION OF THE ROSE. 



of pond water is sufficient, unless the beauty of the foliage 

 be considered more important than that of the flowers. 



Pruning is one of the most delicate operations in the 

 whole practice of cultivation. On judicious pruning 

 depends not only the handsome formation of the tree 

 but the quality and quantity of flowers that will be 

 produced. Besides being a delicate operation, it is one 

 of which a correct knowledge can only be obtained by 

 practice and close observation. To offer a system of 

 pruning that might be applied generally, would be as 

 fallacious as for a physician to offer one rule of exercise, 

 diet, &c., to individuals of different temperaments and 

 constitutions. A method that is good in one stage of 

 growth, or for some particular variety, could not be 

 recommended in or for others. However, a few passing 

 remarks seem called for. In general, the more vigorous the 

 habit of a plant is the less should the shoots be shortened in 

 pruning. Thus the Hybrids of the Chinese and some of 

 the Noisettes, which are vigorous growers, should be 

 well thinned out and shortened back to 8 or 10 eyes. 

 On the contrary, small-growing kinds require close pruning, 

 such as the Chinese Tea-Scented and Damask Perpetual, 

 some of which require cutting back to 2 or 3 eyes. But 

 the system of pruning must be regulated in a measure by 

 the object sought. If large handsome flowers are wanted 

 in preference to number, a more rigorous system of pruning 

 must be followed than when the object is merely to enrich 

 and adorn the garden with a great display. Loose pruning 

 produces quantity of flowers ; close pruning quality. It 

 must, however, be borne in mind that too close pruning 

 applied to the vigorous Summer blooming kinds will cause 

 them to grow all to wood without producing any flowers. 

 With regard to the season best suited for this operation, 

 something depends on the time they are wanted to bloom. 

 Pruning in November doubtless causes an earlier bloom 

 than pruning in March. Nevertheless, we are not disposed 

 to recommend autumn pruning, and for this reason a 



