CUT FLOWEEg. 147 



planting should be carefully done, the long bare roots neatly 

 cut in, and the fibres evenly spread out as near the surface as 

 possible, so that the budded part is fairly covered with the 

 soil. The plants should be set about three feet apart, secured 

 to neat stakes, and the surface of the soil kept well mulched 

 with stable litter. The unripe tops of the shoots may be 

 shoi-tened when planted, but pruning should be delayed till 

 the middle of March, and then the shoots reduced to two, with 

 three or four eyes in each. No exhibition blooms may be 

 expected the first year, but everything should be done to pro- 

 mote vigour and maturity in the plants for the production of 

 first-class blooms in the second year, when roses are generally 

 at theii" best. Only two shoots from a root should be allowed 

 to grow. They should be carefully attended to, kept clean, 

 and all the flower-buds picked off as they appear, so as to get 

 the wood as strong and well ripened as possible. In March 

 of the second year the shoots should be pruned again to about 

 six inches from their base, and two young shoots allowed to 

 grow from each, and upon these the roses for exhibition are 

 grown. As soon as the best buds can be clearly seen, disbud- 

 ding should commence, carefully reserving the best formed and 

 plumpest buds that promise to open their flowers at the date 

 of the exhibition. Three buds on each shoot are enough at a 

 time, and all othei-s must be remorselessly picked off,- remov- 

 ing also all superfluous growth, so that the whole resources of 

 the plant be thrown into the development of the exhibition 

 roses. Water must be given in dry weather, and liquid manure 

 liberally applied when the buds are set and swelling off, keep- 

 ing all clean from insects and mildew. 



The Tea-Roses thrive well under similar conditions as to 

 soil and treatment ; they are, however, not so hardy as the 

 Hybrid Perpetuals, and require to be well protected with a 

 deep covering of litter during the winter. Even with protec- 

 tion the wood is frequently killed to the gi-ound, but the litter 

 saves the frost getting at the roots, and most varieties will 

 start again freely from the collar. The Teas do best when 

 budded on the briar stock ; they should not be so close pruned 

 as the Hybrid Perpetuals, as they produce the finest blooms 



