The climbers, which have been removed from the trellises or posts and stretched 
on the ground, are trimmed before being replaced on their supports. If the wood is 
too thick some of the older basal shoots should be removed and then all laterals should 
be brought in two or three eyes from the main stems. These clipped laterals will later 
produce much larger and more perfect clusters of blooms. If the plant is too tall or 
the runners too long they should be cut to the desired height before raising it to the 
support. In bringing the plant up to a post care should be taken not to bunch the 
stems too much. Of course, on a trellis or other support the whole plant may be 
nicely spread for a more gorgeous display. | 
All of the above should take place before the new shoots are too long, thus as 
tew as possible are injured during the operation. 
The climbers, being off the ground, the Hybrid Teas and Floribundas are the 
next consideration. Since the hilled soil is undoubtedly thawed by now, it must be re- 
moved in order to properly trim any injured branches. The Floribunda roses are nat- 
urally more hardy than the Hybrid Teas and there is less injury to the tops of most 
of them. Depending on the height of the bush desired these may be trimmed from 
[2 inches up to several feet high. As inthe climbers, take out the light wood and cut 
the laterals in to a few eyes from the main stems. This method of pruning will give a 
massive display of bloom from the older wood, followed by new bottom breaks which 
prolong the blooming period for many weeks and which serve as the means of keeping 
fresh blooming shoots coming all summer. 
The Hybrid Teas in the colder areas will need to have all the heavy wood pre- 
served that is not injured. In other more gentle climates, experience will indicate 
the most practical heights — trom |2 inches to 2 feet on younger bushes and higher 
on older plants. Here again the weaker and the side shoots should be intelligently 
removed or trimmed. 
The plants in the colder areas will first need to be trimmed to a good eye below 
winter injury. Sometimes it is necessary to go to the crown of the plant for this, but 
more frequently nice firm stems are found above the hilling. If these latter are heal- 
thy, they may be left from 8 to |2 inches high — with again the weak branches trim- 
med out and the laterals trimmed in. 
If the plants are not pruned too severely, the earlier growth thus obtained en- 
courages greater root action and earlier production of the heavier bottom canes 
which eventually supply most of the season's flowers. 
The proper time to prune is thus, early spring after the worst freezes are over. 
However, it must be done before the buds are advanced too far. For if the buds at 
the tips of the branches become too large, when they are cut off, they will have ab- 
sorbed a great deal of the material stored by the plant for its spring start and it will 
take a much longer time for the plant to readjust itself with a resultant lesser bush. 
Good pruning shears, some twine for the climbers and a little bending will finish 
this simple spring operation quickly and will give the plants the all important early start | 
towards a big summer of bloom. 
