TEA ROSES 89 



The necessity for protection has already been referred 

 to. The soil should be heaped over the base of the bush 

 roses whenever signs of severe weather are apparent ; 

 it is a wise plan to remove it if mild weather shoiild 

 foUow and continue, as it so frequently does in the 

 southern counties, otherwise the stems become soft 

 and are then more liable to suffer. Bracken thrust 

 among the shoots of the standards and tied on with 

 string, placing it especially at the base of the shoots, 

 usually ensures their passing through the winter fairly 

 .successfully. The protective coverings must be removed 

 in good time in spring, say about the middle of 

 March. 



Tea roses for exhibition are best grown as half- 

 standards. Many of the best exhibition varieties are 

 much superior in this form. The half-standard, or even 

 the dwarf standard (on a stem eighteen inches high), 

 may be more readily protected in winter than the fuU 

 standard. 



The pruning of Tea roses in bush form gives one 

 very little to do ; in fact, as a rule, the less they are 

 pruned the better, except in the March following plant- 

 ing. On this occasion the shoots ought to be shortened 

 by half or two-thirds, if indeed, as is likely, they have 

 not died back to that extent. Tea roses form a number 

 ■ of small twiggy, weakly growths that cannot be expected 

 to blooni. These should be cut out at pruning time in 

 March ; those that remain will need shortening very 

 slightly. Tea roses seem to succeed best when allowed 

 to grow more or less naturally. Hard pruning, as becomes 



