66 PRUNING. 



When the space gets filled, you must continue cutting out, from year 

 to year, all thin, spindley shoots, and spare the strong ones, so that the 

 stongest eyes only are developed, instead of all of them ; and the Roses 

 are closely set to their wall or trellis, instead of hanging lolloping 

 about; the very thing which is good on a pillar, or an arbor, or over 

 an archway, or on festoons, being the reverse on a flat surface. As a 

 never-failing operation, however, in all cases, the weak, spindley shoots 

 may always be removed, whether the strong wood be shortened or 

 not. 



Pruning of Standards on Their Own Bottoms, or Roots. 



It is very common to see among Dwarf or Bush Roses, a strong 

 shoot growing upright, a sucker from the root ; and it is frequently 

 the case that these will rise up to five or six feet high. In the Moss 

 Roses, this is often to be found. These may always be trained into 

 standard trees, with heads in every way proportioned to the stem. 

 As soon as a vigorous shoot of this kind makes its appearance, cut in 

 the bush at bottom rather hard, as it will tend to strengthen the root, 

 which will be relieved of some of its work by the operation. When 

 the shoot has attained the required height, pinch off the top ; this will 

 encourage side shoots, all of which, except the two or three at the top, 

 must be rubbed off. It rarely occurs, however, that any side giowth 

 is made the first season ; so that the better way, unless the shoot be 

 getting too long early in the season, is to let it ripen its wood. The 

 latter part of the autumn, you may look at the root, to see what state 

 it is in, and how far it may be dependent on the main root. If it be 

 closely joined, so that there would not be sufficient root if separated, 

 the old bush must be sacrificed, and the root secured for the standard. 

 As the upper part of the shoot may not be well ripened, it will be as 

 well to bind a hay band round it, or tie some moss or other litter, to 

 save it from sharp frost, though moderate ones will not injure. 



In the spring, cut the end off as low down as will do for your pur- 

 pose, and when the buds shoot out, it will be seen that the three or 

 four upper ones come first ; all others on the stem must be rubbed off. 

 Nor is it any great use having two buds on the same side of the tree ; 

 jf you can manage to have three, or even four, within a few inches of 

 she top. "oin'mg differeat ways, they will form the better hold of it, to 



