ON DISBUDDING FLOWERING PLANTS, 
65 
be entirely saved. The plan is, moreover, superior to winter pruning, in that the 
stopping of a soft-growing shoot is at once a means of eliciting laterals, while the 
process of development is much more tardy when an old, hard, and dormant branch 
is severed. 
There is still another group of plants, on which the system may be practised 
serviceably, and that is such tuberous-rooted, herbaceous species as Gesneras and 
Dahlias. The number of stems which plants of this character will throw up, is 
always manifest at the time of potting or planting, or very speedily afterwards. 
And, duly estimating the capacities of the plants, if just such a quantity of stems 
be then left as will flower liberally, and the buds or eyes of the rest cut out, fine 
and healthy specimens will be obtained. With respect to Dahlias, one good stem 
will always suffice. For Gesneras, three or four may be reserved, as the state of 
the specimen may determine, and other kinds can be treated accordingly. 
Again, in forcing roses, or any shrubs that have been liberally pruned, and 
which are not destined for show, but simply to supply flowers for bouquets, 
however closely the shoots may have been cut in, there will sometimes be buds 
wliich give early signs of unfolding themselves badly, and which may then indicate 
that they will form nothing but starved shoots, wholly destitute of flowers. On 
these, the operation of disbudding can be further employed ; for, if they are timely 
removed, the other flowering shoots will necessarily receive the extra nourishment 
which they would have expended. 
Finally, there are plants which, from their nature, or from fancy, or for par- 
ticular purposes, or because they display themselves better in that manner, have to 
be treated as standard shrubs ; that is, are prepared with more or less tall, bare 
stems, and a bushy, upright, expansive, or drooping head. To train the stems of 
these nicely often requires much and repeated pruning. But we wish to apply to 
them the more rapid and suitable process of disbudding. Let the buds be removed 
ere they have lengthened into branches, and the plants will sooner attain the 
desired altitude, as well as acquire a greater degree of robustness. 
To put in practice the plan we have been suggesting, we would recommend 
the use of a very sharp, small knife, instead of the hand. If buds be rubbed off 
by the finger or thumb, the operation is frequently inefi*ectual, and the bark of the 
plant is commonly injured. When it is done with a suitable knife, however, the 
entire substance of the bud can be cut off", without at all damaging the shrub or 
root from which it is taken. 
We hope we have herein said enough to demonstrate the superiority of 
disbudding to pruning; and that, whenever the former can be eftected, it will, in 
future, be tlie ordinary method pursued with all exotic plants. 
VOL. X. NO. CXI. K 
I 
