d
_Horace Vernet_, that do not transplant well. These ought to be budded,
and not moved, if possible. Dwarf-rooted stocks can be bought of the
nurserymen at a small cost; and the Standard stocks, the best for Tea
roses, can be usually got in the neighbouring hedges.
=Pruning.=[12]--The object of pruning is to give increased vigour to the
plant, and to keep it within bounds; to make, if possible, a new plant
each year, a new top to the old roots. And to do this, severe pruning is
absolutely necessary. The harder the pruning, the stronger the growth.
Each variety should be pruned according to its growth. If very vigorous,
they require less cutting back than those of moderate, or weakly growth.
H. Ps. will be pruned harder than either H. Ts. or Teas; the latter, on
account of frost, will sometimes do with little pruning beyond cutting
out all dead and weakly shoots, and shortening slightly the long
straggling ones. In all cases do not allow the centre of the plant to be
crowded. The H. Ps. as a rule, may be cut down to two or three eyes,
leaving the very vigorous shoots of some kinds even five or six eyes;
but all weak shoots must be cut down to the base of the plant. This
pruning should be done in March, leaving the Teas till April. If in
pruning the pith be found to be dark in colour, the shoot must be cut
back. Sometimes it will be necessary to cut it quite away, if no
light-coloured pith can be seen. Then a certain amount of pruning or
thinning of the shoots is necessary in the spring, after the roses have
started growing; three to six shoots only, according to the variety,
should be left. A thinning again in autumn, of the shoots that have done
their work, will give the later shoots a better chance of ripening.
=Manuring.=--Farmyard dung is the best of all fertilisers, and this
should be used, as has been pointed out,[13] when the beds are being
made, so that there is plenty of good nutriment below the roots. Nitrate
of soda and Guano, both soluble, may be sprinkled on the surface
alternately once a week after the plants have begun to grow, and hoed
in. Manure put on for a mulch in winter does little or no good. The very
best and only mulch, winter and summer, is a loose soil surface; and for
this the hoe must be kept at work, especially after rain or watering. A
good liquid manure is made by putting a barrowful of fresh cow manure
into a large barrel, _a big wine pipe_ is the thing; add soft water to
thin it, pu
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