86 YARD AND GARDEN 



flowers on the old wood matured the season 

 before, and in such instances the strong growths 

 should not be cut back, but the weak ones, how- 

 ever, should be sacrificed without hesitation 

 and all decayed wood should be cut out imme- 

 diately upon its discovery. Other vines pro- 

 duce their bloom on the young shoots of the 

 current season and in such cases it is the old 

 wood that should be eliminated and the fresh 

 young shoots encouraged. Still others flower 

 only on spurs that are sent out by the old wood 

 and these climbers are best pruned by cutting 

 out the weakly shoots and reducing the length 

 of those remaining. But in every case a study 

 of the particular species is essential. In some 

 instances where the climbers have been set in 

 position where they are not on parade, it is 

 probably the wisest policy to limit the pruning 

 to which they are submitted to the cutting out 

 of the dead wood. This, however, is not to be 

 taken as a general policy to follow for, wher- 

 ever the best results are desired, pruning will 

 be found to be essential. Even the freest 

 rambling rose is materially benefited and im- 

 proved by pruning which, to the novice, may 

 appear to be extraordinarily and uselessly se- 

 vere. Clematis, too, must be cut back if it is 



