246 THE ROSE BOOK 



All rose primings should be burnt, and if rose rust 

 has been very severe the surface soil to a depth of one 

 inch or so should be removed and burnt, the ashes after- 

 wards being spread on the soil. This would destroy a 

 large number of the fungus spores in the soil. 



Seedling Brier stocks should be potted up into five- 

 inch pots now. They are extremely useful to bud new 

 roses upon in June and July. If the reader wishes to 

 propagate his own pot roses, this can be done by bud- 

 ding in July upon the stocks potted up now. 



Under glass, roses are advancing rapidly owing to 

 increased sunlight, and they need some help in the way 

 of liquid manure or a mulch. The growths of pot roses 

 should be tied out to small sticks in order to form shapely 

 plants and to support the coming blossom. Climbing 

 roses on the roof or walls should also be spread out, those 

 on walls being trained in the shape of a fan. 



Cuttings may now be put in. Select the firm growths 

 from the pot-grown roses : those that have just flowered 

 are best. Cuttings having two buds are preferable ; 

 they are cut through with a sharp knife just beneath the 

 lower bud. A box with glass cover fixed over the hot- 

 water pipes makes an excellent propagating frame. Let 

 there be five inches of sharp sand put in and the cut- 

 tings inserted therein. The sand must be made solid 

 first and well watered. Never allow the sand to get dry. 

 In about six weeks the cuttings will have roots three 

 quarters of an inch long and they are potted into two 

 and a half inch pots of sifted sandy soil, and grown on 

 in the same structure. 



