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It is possible to govern the growth of roses to some extent by constantly watching for shoots commencing to grow in undesirable directions-most commonly across the centre of the plant-or badly placed watershoots. These will never be useful and, if allowed to continue growing, will only use good food and give poor results. It is best to remove them before they have grown to any extent, and so direct the sap into more desirable channels. They can be rubbed off with the finger before they reach half an inch in length.

Pruning is discussed at some length in the chapters on winter pruning and summer treatment, which possibly may convey a slightly wrong impression, for pruning is really an all-the-year-round proceeding. Uncared-for plants prune them-

Fig. 14. Results of correct cutting in gathering blooms.

selves by the death of old parts and by the falling of ripened seed-pods. We attempt to design the lives of our plants in a more orderly fashion. Dead and sickly wood must be cut away as soon as it is seen at any time of the year. Healthy twiggy growth should not be removed except when pruning in winter, for they bear useful foliage. Blooms must never be broken or torn from the plants, but should be cut, by sharp secateurs, with long stems just above a growth-bud pointing outwards. This is part of the continuous pruning. One or two new flowering shoots will spring from the short remaining branch and in a desirable direction. When this next lot of blooms is cut the plant will have grown and spread as a result of this correct cutting. Only short-stemmed small blooms will come if very long stems are left on the plant.