vit STOCKS 131 
sloping, and no “heel,” or portion of older wood, 
should be retained. A “heel” is recommended 
where cuttings of the Roses themselves are taken, 
as it makes root growth more easy; but, as a sure 
and fruitful source of suckers, it must not be allowed 
for briar cuttings, which will generally root fairly if 
they be formed of ripe wood and are properly planted 
and cared for. 
We have now the cuttings ready for planting, 
smooth shoots of wood ten inches long, with two 
buds left at the top. These should be at once set in 
a piece of fairly light and very clean soil, deep enough 
to almost cover the lower bud. Double rows may 
again be used, ten inches and four inches alternately 
separating the rows, and the cuttings three inches 
apart from each other. It is advisable to set twice 
as many as you expect to want; for, though the 
trimming of the cuttings takes a considerable time, 
the crop is uncertain, and there is much virtue in 
the comfortable old adage to ‘“‘ make a job of a thing 
while you are about it.” The soil should be made 
as firm as possible about the cuttings, but neverthe- 
less if you come after a sharp frost and just touch 
the top of one with your finger you will find that it 
has been raised up, sometimes an inch or more, in 
its hole. They should all be gently pushed down 
again till they rest firmly. 
They grow but slowly in the spring, but increase 
in rapidity of growth when they have once become 
rooted, and some will probably make quite strong 
shoots in the autumn. These might in some 
instances be budded at once, but it is best to leave 
them all to the next year for that operation. With 
the summer will be realised the advantage of the 
K 2 
