No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 801 



old, and the sensation incidental to the first attempt in propagat- 

 ing plants in this way is more readily imagined than described. 



''Grafting" to increase some varieties of plants is frequently re- 

 sorted to under glass, especially does this apply to roses. There 

 is in some soils with some varieties of roses a decided advantage 

 in using "grafted" plants, and among the stocks used giving the 

 most general satisfaction is one introduced into France and England 

 from Italy half a century or so ago, koown as the "Mauetti" stock. 

 The varieties of roses which show a marked improvement when 

 grafted are what is known as the "Mermet" family, which consists 

 of the Bride, a white sport from Mile. Catherine Mermet before re- 

 ferred to, and Bridesmaid, another sport from the same variety which 

 produces darker and brighter pink colored flowers than does the 

 variety from v»hich it sprung. Among the advantages claimed to be 

 gained by grafting by many growers of roses for cut tlowers in winter 

 is, that the plants produce more flowers and flowers of better quality 

 than they do on their own roots. 



The varieties of roses referred to form roots very readily, as cut- 

 tings, when given the necessary care which consists of never allow- 

 ing the sand in w'hich the cuttings are inserted — which is generally 

 known as a propagating bed — to become dry, nor to allow the cut- 

 tings to wilt by allowing them to be exposed unnecessarily long to 

 the influence of the sun. Judicious shading of cuttings is at all times 

 recommended, and a movable and not a permanent shading is con- 

 sidered the better, for if a cutting is rooted under a dense shade, 

 the young plants, rooted under those conditions, are liable to have 

 their constitutions impaired. Consequently material to be used as 

 shading should only be placed over the cuttings when the sun's 

 influence becomes too strong. Newspaper is very frequently used 

 with which to break the fierce rays of the sun from the cuttings and 

 is as efl'ective as anything that can be used. If cuttings are once 

 allowed to become dry and wilt, the chances of their ever forming 

 roots is very remote indeed. On very warm days sprinkling the cut- 

 tings occasionally will be a great help towards keeping them fresh 

 and in a growing condition. In an atmos^jheric temperature 

 of not lower than 50 degrees and not higher than 58 degrees at night 

 and an under a bottom heat of ten degrees higher after the callous is 

 formed, and the general temperature kept down in daytime as nearly 

 10 f)5 degrees as possible, the cuttings should root in from twenty- 

 one to twenty-five days sometimes longer according to the con- 

 dition of the wood used from which the cutting is made, while some 

 varieties root in much less time than others. 



Grafting is frequently resorted to where the subject does not form 

 roots readily, but that is not the case with the varieties of roses 

 51—6—1902 



