348 . The Canadian Horticulturist. 



HARDY ROSES. 



If the roses are planted in the fall the operation should not be performed 

 until the foliage has almost fallen from the plants. When planted, a few inches 

 of the points of the shoots may be trimmed off and the very weak shoots cut 

 clean out leaving only two or three of the strongest. Then give the bed a good 

 mulching of short manure, and as soon as cold weather approaches a thick 

 covering of leaves — if they are to be had — should be applied, securing them 

 with brush or otherwise. If no leaves can be had branches of evergreen stuck 

 thickly among the plants will prove of great benefit. The ensuing spring, say 

 end of March or beginning of April, the leaves or other protection should be 

 removed, the bed spaded lightly over and the plants pruned back to five or six 

 eyes. 



After the first year the pruning may be managed as follows : — Cut away all 

 the old wood in the fall, just before making the plants snug for the winter, and 

 thin- out the new growth if necessary, leaving from three to four or more shoots 

 according to the strength of the plants. In the spring after uncovering — and do 

 not be in too much of a hurry about the latter — the shoots may be pruned back 

 to from six to twelve eyes, according to the strength of the shoot — the rule 

 being, the stronger the shoot the more eyes may be left. For it should be 

 always borne in mind that the more wood you leave the more work you assign 

 the plant for the coming season, and the work should be in every case in 

 proportion to the strength of the plant. This is the only general rule that can 

 be given as regards pruning, though there are some other features connected 

 with it that can only be learned by experience. 



The Rev. S. Reynolds Hole, in his incomparable work on roses, says: — "He 

 who would have beautiful roses in his garden must have beautiful roses in his 

 heart. He must love them well and always. He must have not only the glow- 

 ng admiration, the enthusiasm and the passion, but the tenderness, the thought- 

 fulness, the reverence and the watchfulness of love. He is loyal and devoted 

 even in storm-fraught or sunny days. Not only the first on summer mornings 

 to gaze admiringly on glowing charms, but the first when leaves fall and leaves 

 are chill to protect against cruel frost. To others when its flowers are faded it 

 may be worthless as a hedgerow thorn ; to him in every phase it is precious." 



It is a great blessing for any busy man to have some recreation— something 

 to break in on the monotonous treadmill of everyday cares and troubles, and 

 those whose tastes lie in the right direction will find the culture of roses 

 admirably adapted to this purpose. — Wesfern Stockman, 



