LECTURE ON SPRING FLOWERING PLANTS. 357 



experience that if we leave a Rose tree unpruned for one 

 year it loses shape, and the flowers lose size, colour, and 

 consistency. If we leave it unpruned for two or three 

 years in succession, it rapidly degenerates. To this sub- 

 ject I shall recur by-and-by. 



Disbudding, which may be considered an auxiliary to 

 pruning, is a practice which I value highly, and have 

 adopted for many years. A plant, if well fed, often pushes 

 forth new branches in such close proximity that as the 

 growth extends ,the branches crowd and stifle each other. 

 To prevent this and here it should be remarked that a 

 few large vigorous leaves are more desirable than a 

 greater number of small leaves we rub out and destroy 

 in an early stage of growth a portion of these incipient 

 branches, leaving such as have an outward tendency of 

 growth, and are placed at good distances from each other. 



Now the flowering of these plants, if placed in a green- 

 house, will, as we have already said, take place in May. 

 So soon as the flowering is over they are gradually inured 

 to the temperature out of doors, whither they are shortly 

 conveyed. The second growth takes place out of doors, 

 and is again regulated by disbudding and the stopping of 

 any gross shoots. The plants being a month in advance 

 of Roses out-of-doors as to flowering and growth, may be 

 brought to rest a month earlier. Let us assume, then, that 

 it is the end of September and the plant is in a state of 

 rest. It should be our aim to keep it so for at least two 

 months. The best means of effecting this is to place it in 

 a house or shed where no heat is employed, keeping the 

 roots rather dry. 



A word or two with regard to the forcing-house. It 

 should be constructed so as to secure as much light as 

 possible. The artificial spring which we create for our 

 plants does not secure for them the long and strong 

 sunlight of their natural spring it is the difference 

 between December and March, so that it is important 

 to secure all the light we can. 



