THE ROSE GARDEN. 135 



of the scion may lie exactly upon the bark of the stock. In laying the scion on, 

 it is a good plan to hold the pot containing the stock in the left hand, and the 

 knife must occupy the right. Now place the thumb of the right hand on the top 

 of the stock, and insert the knife an inch or an inch and a half below, drawing it up 

 obliquely to tbe summit. In making this cut, do not remove more than one-fourth 

 of the diameter of the stock. Care must be taken to prevent the knife twisting, 

 or the consequence will be an unlevel cut. The stock being prepared, take the 

 scion in the left hand, place it on the knee, giving an eye to the size of the piece 

 of wood removed from the stock : while in this position, pass the knife downwards, 

 repeating the movement till a clean level cut is made, and the size of the lower 

 end such that it may, when united to the stock, exactly replace the part removed. 

 Thus, if one-third of the stock is removed, supposing that and the scion to be of 

 equal dimensions, two thirds of the latter must be cut away. The unpractised 

 eye and hand will not always be able to fit the stock by the first cut ; and as it is 

 important that the two barks should join, he may have to take a second or a third 

 slice from one or the other. Well, he had better do so than leave the stock and 

 scion badly placed ; but the less of this trifling work the better. It is far easier 

 to make a clean and level cut by a single draw of the knife, than by the most deli- 

 cate after touches. When the scion is placed in a right position, it should be 

 securely held there by the thumb and fingers of the left hand until it is bound 

 firmly on the stock with the right. With regard to the treatment of the newlv- 

 grafted plants, if the stocks have been in bottom-heat before grafting they must 

 remain there ; if taken from the open air, bottom-heat is not absolutely necessary, 

 although it will increase the amount of success. Suckers are sure to sprino- from 

 the stocks, and they often do so in an annoying abundance. They must be kept 

 in check by pinching out their tops till the stock and scion are firmly united, and 

 the latter pushed into growth, when they 'may be entirely eradicated. 



When the scions first shoot the young leaves are very tender, especially when 

 developed in heat. In most cases, too, they are but ill supplied with food in this 

 early stage of growth, and shading is especially necessary. A strong current of 

 air, or a hot sun, will injure them greatly. When the shoots are two or three 

 inches long, the plants that have been grown in heat may be removed to a cold 

 frame, where air should be admitted gradually, to harden them. Some will bloom 

 the same year ; but they should not be left to flower in heat, or they become 

 drawn and weakly, producing thin and badly-coloured flowers. 



It is advisable to remove the ligature in grafted Roses, and this should be done 

 so soon as we suppose, by the growth of the scion, that the union is complete. If, 

 when untied, the junction is not perfected, a single tie at top and bottom is suffi- 

 cient to render all secure. 



In plants grafted out of doors the composition should not be removed for two 

 or three months j and that which covers the summits of the stock and scion may 

 remain till it naturally disappears. 



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