PRUNING. 61 



and all that are on it ; for rose trees and bushes, like everything else, 

 are easily spoiled by bearing too much wood, and being over-crowded. 

 The regular Combing Rose is often required to make as much show 

 as possible the first year of planting ; but unless they are removed 

 with the greatest possible care, they ought to be cut almost to the 

 ground, and thinned out also. None but the strongest wood ought 

 to be allowed to remain on the plant, and if this be not of quite first 

 rate excellence, it is far better to cut out all the weak branches, and 

 cut down the strong ones to two eyes each. 



Pruning Standards, 



With regard to Standard Roses, we cannot help thinking, from all 

 we' have seen practised, that a large portion of them are grown alto- 

 gether upon a wrong principle. Standard trees, to be handsome, 

 should be as wide in the head as their entire height ; and upon the 

 present system of pruning them, they enlarge a little every year. 



When your standards are planted, you need do nothing to them until 



FIRST TXAB'B GROWTH o BUD. 



April ; the** cut all small shoots off close ; that is to say, clear them 

 right away ; cut down the strong ones to two, three, or at most, four 



