Garden Notes - Pruning Roses

Summer Pruning of Roses

Climbing Roses of the free growing or rambling type are best pruned in March; those on walls early in the month, and those on arches at the end. All old shoots and dead wood should be cut away, and the weak shoots thinned out. Unripened tips of last year's shoot should be removed from Boisette, Polyantha, and Tea Climbers. In the late summer months the shoots that have flowered should be cut away to enable the new growths to ripen.

Stem-Layering

Indoor plants each as the India rubber Plant, may be multiplied by Stem Layering. Just below the leaves the stem is cut halfway and slit upwards for about an inch, keep cleft (A) open with a small pebble. A pot is cut in two, and the drainage hole enlarged to take the stem. Halves of pot are placed round cleft and bound together with copper wire; support pot on stakes. Place charcoal on bottom and fill up with soil (leaf mould and sand; keep moist.

Starting Bulbs

Plant Hyacinth Bulbs in Oct. or Nov. Compost; fibrous loam, three parts; leaf mould, one part; decayed manure, one part; and course sand, half part. Drainage of crocks and moss should be provided (A), and on this the compost (B) should be firmly packed leaving half-an-inch of the bulb exposed. Place pots in a group on a bed of cinders covered with inverted pots (C), and surrounded with sand (D). when top growth appears 5-10 weeks take into the greenhouse.

Pruning Gooseberry Bushes

Gooseberry Bushes are best pruned between October and the end of January. All rank growths must be cut out, and all struggling tips received. Care should be taken to leave the center of the bush fairly open. Our diagram shows a Gooseberry Bush half pruned-the growths to be cut away are indicated at A. The ground should be forked over during the winter, and weeds removed, providing a loose surface for the rain to enter freely. Stable manure should be given as required.

Cabbage Plants

Early varieties of the Cabbage should be sown in February, in pens or boxes, the seed being started in a warm frame. They should be hardened off before they become crowded, and planted out. These seedlings should "turn in" quickly, and he ready for cutting during the summer months. If any of the seedlings are "blind" i.,e., without heart, as shown at A-these should be course not be planted, as they are useless.