THE HISTORY AND CULTIVATION OF THE ROSE. 37 



few mild days at Christmas time or in January will excite 

 the buds of November-pruned Roses, they push forth, and 

 the severe weather that almost invariably follows injures 

 them most seriously when in this state. Now, in March- 

 pruning we are secure from all this, and though by its 

 adoption the flowers may be developed a few days later, 

 yet it places us on the safe side of the question. As each 

 system doubtless has its advantages, let us see if we cannot 

 partially reconcile them. Let the heads be thinned out in 

 November, and the shoots left for flowering be shortened 

 in the Spring. In pruning the Rose there are two points 

 that should be kept in view the forming of a handsome 

 tree, and the obtaining of an abundance of good flowers. 

 To secure the first point it is necessary to begin our 

 operations when the plant is young ; a certain number of 

 shoots varying from 3 to 7, according to the strength of 

 the plant, should be marked out as standing at equal and 

 greatest distances from each other, and the remaining 

 shoots should be cut clean away. Close pruning is 

 necessary the first season after transplanting. 



We have now reached a most interesting branch of 

 Rose-culture, namely, the raising of Seedlings. This 

 has hitherto engaged the attention of our English 

 horticulturists to a very slight degree. To France and 

 Italy are we indebted for our new varieties. But we 

 hope for better things. It is universally admitted that 

 we surpass the French in every other branch of Rose 

 cultivation, and why should we not in originating new 

 varieties ? The only plausible reply that can be furnished 

 is their climate is superior to ours. We admit it, and 

 propose a little extra care to remedy this natural difficulty. 

 We need not waste time in arguing that Roses can be 

 raised from seed in England we have palpable proof of it. 

 Here in this immediate neighbourhood that admirable 

 Climbing Rose Blairii was originated. George the Fourth 

 is of English origin ; and Prince Albert not H.P. Prince 

 Albert but Hooker's Prince Albert, which is one of the 



