VII 



STOCKS 10^ 



stages, and finally cut and shown the Rose, then, when 

 perchance it is declared on all hands to be the finest 

 specimen of the variety ever shown, it must be an 

 additional pleasure to know that it is your Rose indeed, 

 for that, as far as all human aid is concerned, you made 

 it yourself! 



Or again, you go to see a brother enthusiast, and to 

 admire and take stock of his collection. You see one 

 or more, perhaps several, Roses which are new to you 

 and you would much like to possess. If you are not a 

 " Buddhist," you can only take down the names, and 

 order a plant or two of each from your nurseryman to be 

 sent you in November. It may be that you do not mind 

 the cost, but plant as carefully as you may, with all 

 possible good fortune, you will be lucky if you get any 

 first-class blooms the next year from these newly-moved 

 plants. But if you have plenty of good healthy stocks 

 at home ready to be budded, how much more speedy 

 and effectual and less costly the whole matter is. Your 

 friend immediately cuts you off a shoot or two of the 

 required sorts with good buds on each, or promises to 

 send you them by post if there are none now ready. If 

 the leaves are at once snipped off, all but the last inch 

 of the footstalk of each, they may be safely carried home, 

 or they will travel by one day's post, even without any 

 Avet moss as protection, though of course they should not 

 be left in the sun for any length of time. Do not be afraid 

 your friend will refuse you, unless his plant is very 

 small, weakly and precious ; not only from the universal 

 good fellowship of the craft, but also because he naturally 

 expects that you will do the same for him, and that the 

 benefit will thus be mutual. You put in these buds 

 which have cost you nothing but an exchange which 

 you can very well spare, and the very next summer you 



