142 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
shoots are so forced by high culture and thinning 
that the buds begin to grow out all up the stems 
before the flowers open, and a more natural state of 
things later on must be waited for. A fully developed 
plump bud is desirable, but this is of less importance 
than the condition of the shoot, which should not be 
more than half-ripe, with the sap still flowing freely 
so that the wood parts easily from the bark. Pro- 
fessionals will often use a shoot for budding, where 
some amateurs would say that there were no buds, 
as none are visible. There is always a bud under 
every leaf-stalk, and it is far better to use those in 
this undeveloped condition when the wood will come 
out satisfactorily than older and more attraetive- 
looking buds which cannot be properly prepared. 
Asa rule, buds should always be taken from a shoot 
which has, or has had, a good bloom on it. Some 
sorts, like Francois Michelon, often have long strong 
flowerless shoots, with plenty of good wood buds on 
them. If these buds be used there is a strong 
probability of no flowers being produced the first 
year. In Tea Roses, the buds next to the bloom are 
generally flattish and pointed instead of round and 
plump. These should not be used, as they will often 
produce, if they take, just a poor little bloom upon 
an inch or two of stalk perhaps with no leaves at all, 
and soon die. It is safest in all cases not to use the 
next bud to the bloom. 
The chosen shoots should be cut off with scissors, 
and all the leaves immediately snipped off, leaving 
about an inch of footstalk to each. This is not only 
for convenience, since it must be done before the 
buds are used, but also because evaporation takes 
place through the leaves, and the whole shoot will 
