THE ROSE GARDEN. 137 



inches to two feet from the point of the shoot a. a. Now take the shoot in the 

 left hand, and the knife in the right : insert the latter just beyond an eye &., on the 

 upper side of the shoot, and pass it upwards steadily and evenly, cutting about 

 half through the shoot, and for an inch and a half or two inches in length. This 

 done, drop the knife and take the trowel. With the left hand bend the shoot 

 close to the ground, that you may see the best spot in which to bury it, drive the 

 trowel into the ground, working it backwards and forwards till a good opening is 

 made, throw a little sand in the bottom of the opening, and press the shoot into 

 it, pegging it down two or three inches under the soil. It is well to twist the 

 shoot a little after the cut is made, so that the end of the tongue — as it is techni- 

 cally termed (b) — from Avhich the roots will be emitted, may take a downward 

 direction. Having made all secure, close in the soil, pressing it firmly round 

 about the layer. It is a good plan to give each layer a small stick (c), to keep it 

 from being agitated by the motion of the wind. As to the length of the shoot 

 that should remain above ground, much will depend on the state of the wood. 

 We should make the cut or tongue in wood that is young, yet firm. The larger 

 the layer, of course the larger will be the plant, though not always the better 

 rooted : the contrary is often the case. June, July, and August, are the months 

 for laying; and should the weather continue dry, the layers should be occasion- 

 ally watered. If laid in June and July, the free rooters will be ready to take 

 off in November. It is well, however, to examine one or two of each kind to 

 ascertain this point, as some root in an amazingly short space, others advance 

 very slowly. When rooted they may be cut off within an inch or two of the 

 tongue, taken up, and transplanted into beds, or to various spots in the garden. 

 In the spring they may be cut down to within three or four eyes, and some of 

 them will bloom in the summer or autumn. Their after treatment is the same as 

 that of other Roses. 



6. Suckers. — This is the least artificial of the artificial modes, though the 

 Rose is not so much inclined to . multiply itself by suckers as are many plants. 

 The Scotch Rose (R. spinosissima) is perhaps, next to the Dog-rose, most given 

 to this peculiarity. It pushes its shoots along under the ground, and they break 

 through the surface at various distances. It is not very often they can be sepa- 

 rated from the parent with roots ; yet. the underground stems will put forth roots, 

 if carefully severed and transplanted. The autumn is the best time for doing this, 

 and a spade with a sharp edge is the fittest instrument for the purpose. 



(Dit\ 1.) a a 3 



