170 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the greatest number of most beautiful roses we should grow 

 those sorts only which we find to do well. 



The rule as to the number of buds to be left on each shoot 

 therefore is : In proportion as a plant is strong in growth, either 

 ircn :1s r-iririL Li VI: ::' :Ls variety, cr. ir. s less dsrrss. fri-m 

 the actual condition of the individual, leave more buds on each 

 shoot ; because the strong grower has a capability of supplying 

 several buds on each shoot with a sufficiency of sap for good 

 blooms ; and, if a due number be not allowed, the shoots will 

 either not flower at all, or produce coarse and ill- shaped blooms. 

 And, in proportion as a plant is weakly in growth, fewer buds 

 should be left; because the weak grower has only sufficient 

 strength to supply sap to one or two buds on each shoot ; and if 

 more are left, the power will not be sufficiently concentrated to 

 form good blooms. The general habit of the variety should 

 therefore be well borne in mind in determining how many buds 

 to leave on each shoot ; remembering always, with a view to the 

 summer outline of the plant, to prune to an out-looking bud ; 

 and that, as a general rule, the more a shoot is cut back, the 

 longer will be the growth from the bud left at the top. 



Method continued. 



After a warm summer, most of the young wood on a well- 

 pruned and healthy plant will be moderately ripe; but we 

 si: nV_V rnl sx::i vrVL-rV riisd si:::. iV_:s: is firm and 

 brown as the old wood, with large buds ready to start at the 

 first chance. This is very valuable, and plenty of space should 

 be allowed for its development, less ripe shoots being removed to 

 make room for it. On the other hand, we often find gross, 

 strong, but late, unripened shoots, much thicker, but greener, 

 with a much larger proportion of pith. These are comparatively 

 useless, and should generally be cleanly and carefully removed. 

 If any shoot, by its unusual size, evidently absorbs a large pro- 

 portion of the sap of the plant, it should be, according to its 

 ripeness and the condition of the rest of the plant, either 

 removed altogether, or left a good length, other shoots being cut 

 out to make way for it. 



A good deal may be done to remedy faults and defects by a 

 careful examination of each plant in early May, when a further 

 thinning of the young shoots may be practised, if necessary. Of 



