THE GARDEN AT HOME 



of the plant he wishes to prune. Having a right con- 

 ception of these, the rest is plain sailing. 



Take, for instance, the pruning of Roses, which for 

 general purposes may here be divided into two classes, 

 climbing and dwarf. Each needs pruning in quite a 

 different way from the other, but the way is quite easily 

 ascertained by studying the habit of growth and mode 

 of flowering of the Roses. It will be noticed that a climb- 

 ing rose produces its finest blossoms on growths or shoots 

 that were formed during the previous summer ; in other 

 words, shoots that are one year old. Flowers are also 

 borne on growths of two or even three years of age, but 

 there is this difference. The flowers on one-year-old 

 shoots are produced on little growths that spring directly 

 from the vigorous main shoot ; the flowers of older 

 branches arise from side shoots, and are therefore want- 

 ing in size and vigour. It is thus the object of the pruner 

 to furnish the tree with as many one-year-old shoots as 

 possible. To prevent overcrowding, some shoots must be 

 dispensed with ; obviously, the older growths, those that 

 have had their day as one-year-olds, are those to cut out. 



In the case of bush or dwarf roses it will be seen 

 that the flowers are produced on the current year's 

 growths. Evidently the pruning must be different, and 

 so we find it to be. In dealing with climbing roses, the 

 old shoots are cut out to make room for the young ; 

 with bush roses, old shoots are cut back to encourage 

 the growth of new. 



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