214 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



when the wood buds push, further down the stem, 

 these also should be rubbed out, if dealing with a 

 Rose that requires " liberal treatment," but not 

 with one that is apt to come coarse or requires 

 semi-starvation. To take the two examples lately 

 mentioned, Horace Vernet requires that all such 

 wood buds should be stopped, but La France and 

 Maman Cochet will be much better if they are left 

 to grow. The phrase "liberal treatment," which I 

 have borrowed from the excellent catalogue of 

 B. E. Cant and Sons, means that the flower can 

 assimilate, and be the better for, all the sap that 

 can be given it : it implies therefore the best of soil 

 and manure, close pruning, rigorous thinning of 

 shoots, laterals, and buds, and that the best blooms 

 may be expected on maiden plants. Horace Vernet, 

 Dr. Sewell and Xavier Olibo, for instance, are 

 examples of varieties requiring " liberal treatment " : 

 while La France, Her Majesty, and Marie Eady are 

 examples of Eoses which will be spoiled by such 

 high culture. 



A quill toothpick or knife-point is sometimes used 

 for the removal of the tiny flower buds as soon as 

 they can be distinguished, but flnger and thumb will 

 soon get expert at the work and do it mechanically. 



Be careful about delegating this operation to in- 

 experienced hands. I remember a trade exhibitor 

 telling me that he once thought he would employ 

 some women at it. " I want you," said he to them, 

 suiting the action to the word by taking the cluster 

 at the end of a shoot and rapidly removing all but 

 the centre bud, " to take ofi^ all these buds like this." 

 They set to work with a will, and when he came 

 back some time afterwards to see how they were 



