ROSES THAT BLOOM IN JUNE. 85 



tion may be performed with any sharp thin-bladed 

 knife, though one called a " budding-knife," with 

 a thin ivory handle, is best for the purpose. It 

 should be inserted about half an inch above the 

 bud, and, passing about one-third of the way 

 through the wood of the shoot, come out again 

 about the same distance below it, the cut being as 

 clean as possible. The portion of the bark in the 

 centre of which the bud is situated, is called the 

 shield, and when removed it contains a portion of 

 the wood, which is to be carefully removed with 

 the point of the knife, as shown in Fig. 1 ]^ if 

 the wood is dry, and does not separate readily, it 

 is a sign the bud is too old, and it should be re- 

 jected. When the wood is too old or too young, 

 the shield may be taken off only about one-quarter 

 of the way through the shoot, and inserted into 

 the stock without removing the portion of the 

 wood it contains ; this method, particularly with 

 very young shoots, is very successful. If it is 

 necessary to transport the buds some distance, this 

 may be safely done by cutting a portion of the 



* The Bengal, Tea, Bourbon, and some other free growing 

 kinds, may be successfully budded without removing the wood ; 

 in such cases it is better to cut the bud a little thinner, and not 

 so long; in this way they have been known to make a growth 

 and flower within six weeks after the operation. 



8 



