ON THE PRUNING OF ROSES. 



449 



Brier stocks measuring at least 2 metres in height, and to take great care 

 in planting them. They should be budded at once with a dormant eye in 

 August. In the spring, if they have made three leaves, the shoots should be 

 pinched in the green stage when they have reached a length of 15 centi- 

 metres ; they may then be left to grow as they please. In the following 

 spring, the pruning of the branches is proceeded with in such a way as 

 to keep about a dozen of them, which are left to grow as they choose, 

 unless some of them grow too much to the detriment of the others, in 

 which case the equality of the branches should be re-established in the 

 ordinary way.* In the third year all the branches may be bent horizon- 

 tally, by means of osiers tied on to the stem, but a hoop, held in place 

 by three stakes, makes it easier to obtain the desired results, as you can 

 better fix the branches at equal distances from one another. 



Time of Year for Pruning. 



The time for pruning varies according to : 



1. The species and variety ; 



2. The end one has in view ; 



3. The climate ; 



Non-perpetuals, like the Provins, Centifolia, and Damasc Roses, are 

 pruned first after they have flowered in June or July, and again in 

 February or March before they have begun to grow. 



Perpetuals like the Bengals, Teas, Noisettes, Bourbons, Hybrid 

 Perpetuals, Polyanthas, Hybrid Teas and Noisettes, &c, are generally 

 pruned from August to October in the South of France, and in February 

 to March in countries where the cold is severe. In the South, Hybrid 

 Perpetuals are pruned in January. 



In the climates of Paris, Lyons, and Central France, such Roses as 

 1 Souvenir de la Malmaison,' 1 Mrs. Bosanquet,' ' Safrano,' 1 Cramoisi 

 superieur,' and others pruned at the end of August and covered with 

 frames in October, blossom in November and December. This was the 

 South of France method of cultivation, only using frames instead of 

 the sun. 



The time of pruning varies according to the purpose we have in view. 



The time of pruning also varies with the climate, because in countries 

 where the cold is severe the wounds caused by cutting the branches may 

 be a source of danger if rather severe frosts occur after pruning. If this 

 trouble does not exist, one can prune as soon as growth has ceased. 



If we wish to accelerate or retard the flowering of a Rose, the time 

 when the pruning is done has considerable influence. Two Roses pruned 

 at different times, everything else being equal, will not flower at the same 

 time ; the Rose that was the first pruned will be the first to flower. 



Means of Advancing or Retarding the Flowering Season. 



It is possible to advance or retard the flowering of Roses by means of 

 pruning or pinching at certain times of year. Let us take two plants 

 situated in the same border and with the same exposure. 



* To bend down a branch is to check its growth ; to turn it upright is to strengthen 

 it ; to remove some of its leaves is to lessen its vigour. 



