GARDENS OF ROSES 



compact in their manner of growth that they need but 

 slight clipping, while others require severe treatment 

 to keep them within their natural limits. 



When the rose bushes are uncovered in the spring, 

 as soon as the frost has left the ground, they should, 

 unless under unusual circumstances, receive their 

 annual pruning. Then one-half or two-thirds of the 

 previous season's growth should be cut away. 



Climbing roses, unless for special reasons, should 

 have their weakly and cross branches cut out and the 

 unripe tips of the other branches pruned slightly. 



Standards also should have their shoots cut back 

 in late March, possibly to four buds. 



It is a safe rule among all classes of roses to prune 

 the weak growers severely; strong growers can be 

 clipped more sparingly. 



When the spring pruning is over, it is a help to roses 

 to have a handful of bonemeal stirred in about their 

 base. 



At present, it seems to be the custom to plan rose 

 gardens in formal designs, the flowers being somewhat 

 exclusive in temperament. In fact, the wisdom of 

 the formal rose garden is realized as soon as it is remem- 

 bered that these plants are sticklers about being kept 

 by themselves. It has even been claimed that certain 

 varieties do better when planted in a bed which they 

 alone control, than if several other varieties are inter- 

 mingled with them. The hardy and hybrid perpetual 

 roses, and those that are monthly or ever-blooming, 

 should invariably be kept apart, since the latter require 

 much heavier winter covering than the former, and, 



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