42 



ROSES 



be left to insure the safety of the eyes that are 

 retained for next season's flowers. 



RULES FOR PRUNING 



I. Hybrid Perpetuals, Hybrid Teas, Pro- 

 vence and Moss Roses are best grown as bushy 

 plants. They should be severely cut back 

 while dormant in spring, but never in summer 

 or early autumn, as is sometimes done be- 

 cause they are straggling and look unkempt 

 in an otherwise neat garden. From two- 

 thirds to four-fifths of last year's wood, and 

 all weak shoots, are removed. This results in 

 strong growths, producing large flowers, the 

 size of which can be increased by disbudding. 

 If numerous smaller flowers are desired — 

 i. e., quantity at the expense of quality — the 

 shortening-in need not be carried so far. It 

 is permissible to cut back only one-half, but 

 this treatment is objectionable, and does not 

 tend to keep the plants in good condition. 

 This winter pruning should be supplemented 

 by a summer pruning, which consists of 

 simply cutting out the flowering shoots after 

 the flowers fade. It is already done if all the 

 blooms have been gathered. Remove weak 



