PROPAGATION. 87 



As regards the budding and tying in on dwarf 

 stocks, the method is the same in each case, save only 

 that on the seedHng briar you are budding on to the 

 main root, whilst on cuttings you bud on to old wood. 

 Do not cut away any shoots, but draw back the soil 

 round the stocks to the depth of about an inch, so that 

 you may bud as low as possible. 



In the case of seedlings it is not always easy to 

 bud on to the main root, as it is so often crooked, but 

 it must be done, for if budded above the " collar," 

 which is full of dormant buds, the grower will always 

 be bothered with suckers w'hen his tree is established. 

 When budding dwarf stocks take every care that no 

 grit gets into the cut, for this will spoil a good union. 

 It is wisest to clean the surface of the stock with your 

 thumb or a piece of rag before cutting, and on a dry, 

 windy day, when dust is flying, work the opposite side 

 of the stock. After the operation the stocks can be 

 left alone, and save for watering in dry weather, noth- 

 ing can be done for five weeks, when the ties may be 

 loosened or removed according to whether the buds 

 have taken or not. 



In November, when the sap has ceased to flow 

 and the leaves bave fallen, the stock growth may be 

 cut away up to the cross cut or just above it, and in 

 standards to within three inches of the bud; but per- 

 sonally, I advise the spring, and think it best to wait 

 until the end of April or beginning of May; some 

 growers defer it even till June. 



The budding of more than one variety upon a 

 stock can be done, but it is not advised, and m few 

 cases is it successful. 



The fittest survives and the weal^est generally 

 goes to the wall ; still, there is no reason why certain 

 varieties should not share the same stock if desired, in 

 which case Roses and their sports are the most likely 

 to succeed, such as "La France" and "Augustine 

 Guinoisseau;" "Catherine Mermet " and "The 



