VII STOCKS 115 



standard stocks. These are cheap to buy, ready rooted 

 for next year's budding, and it is not always easy to 

 raise a good crojo of them at home. There is a good 

 deal of trouble connected with it, and it may perhaps be 

 said that all this extra labour to raise one's own stocks 

 is like the enthusiasm of the man who blacked himself 

 all over to play Othello. Still too much enthusiasm is 

 better than too little, and as I can raise better briar cut- 

 tings than I can buy, the way to do it shall be described. 

 It is rather a monotonous business, with much less 

 interest in it than the getting of standard stocks. 

 About the middle of October is the time for com- 

 mencing operations, which should be got over before the 

 planting of Roses and rooted stocks is undertaken. The 

 ripest possible wood of the year's growth should be 

 chosen and cut up into lengths of ten inches. Material 

 for this choice will be found in the wild growth of the 

 briar stocks budded that year, and only pieces without 

 any lateral growth should be selected. The cuttings 

 should now be trimmed with a sharp knife, every bud 

 except the two nearest the top being clean cut out with 

 the knife, not rubbed off with the fingers, and all the 

 thorns removed. All this is important, as every other 

 bud or j)art of a bud left will be sure to produce a 

 sucker, and the thorns will prove a hindrance in many 

 ways if suffered to remain. The bottom of the shoot 

 should be a clean cut, not too sloping, and no " heel," or 

 portion of older wood, should be retained. A " heel " is 

 recommended where cuttings of the Roses themselves 

 are taken, as it makes root growth more easy ; but, as 

 a sure and fruitful source of suckers, it must not be 

 allowed for briar cuttings, which will generally root 

 fairly if they be formed of ripe wood and are properly 

 planted and cared for. 



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