On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:15:56 +0000 (UTC), "Martin"
wrote:

Hi Burt,

On most modern rose bushes all stems have a finite life span 2 to 4 years on
average. The rose name tag is invariably attached to the first and therefore
the oldest stem which is destined to die first. That's the theory but I have
not carried out any tests on this, maybe I will do so as like you I believe
there may be more to it.



I like this theory - it suggests that maybe it's not my fault when
canes die...