150 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
by a sharp knife with a thumb-nail pressed against 
the other side of the bud, quite low down and close 
to the socket : in a week or two the small dormant 
buds which are always in existence on each side of 
a healthy one will begin to show, and the operation 
will be successful. 
It is absolutely necessary that the growing shoot 
be tied to some support as soon as possible, and that 
care should be taken throughout the first season to 
see that it is really secure. Great caution should be 
used in making the first ties with a strong stiff 
shoot—the union is very insecure, and even a crack 
from bending too much, or a sudden jar, may ruin 
allin a moment. Never mind spoiling the shape or 
look of the plant; we may think of that next year. 
The union is not perfect, at least for some time, 
during the first season, and the shoot is generally 
top-heavy. The finer the growth, and the better 
the head formed, the more certain it is to be blown 
out if not securely tied. Nothing is more aggravat- 
ing than to come out some morning in summer and 
find the whole thing blown clean out of the stock. 
The plant is absolutely destroyed, and all the time 
and labour from the first getting of the stock are 
simply thrown away. 
It is best not to try to be economical in such a 
case, or when buds have failed, by budding on the 
same stock again. Fresh stocks are better in every 
way, and briar cuttings whose buds have failed will 
not form good dwarf standard stocks for the next 
year, though [have often tried them. 
Bamboos are now the best stakes and supports, 
at all events of a temporary nature. Budded stocks 
of manetti, briar cuttings, and seedlings should 
