ROSE. 279 



ground over the layer should be covered with moss, or coarse 

 manure, or some substance to screen it from the sun. In some 

 varieties, the layers will be sufficiently rooted in autumn ; but 

 in many kinds, particularly the hardy perpetuals, they will not 

 be sufficiently established to separate from the parent plant till 

 the autumn following. 



By Suckers. Many varieties of Roses are inclined to throw 

 up suckers. With these sorts there is no difficulty in increas- 

 ing the stock. These should be taken off with as much root as 

 possible, every autumn, and planted out in nursery rows, or 

 where they are to remain, if strong plants. The parent plant 

 is also very much benefited by this operation. 



Budding. All the varieties of the Rose can be propagated 

 by budding, and, to increase new and rare varieties, this mode 

 is'always resorted to. There are some sorts, naturally weak, 

 which flower much more perfectly when budded on some strong- 

 growing species ; but we hate a budded Rose-bush, and will not 

 have one in our grounds if we can get them on their own roots. 

 It requires much care and attention to keep them in order, as 

 the stock is continually throwing up sucke-rs, drawing all the 

 nourishment from the budded variety. Where there are but 

 few varieties, and. a skilful gardener to look after the plants, 

 there is no doubt but that it is desirable to have some varieties 

 on strong-growing stocks. We were not a little amused, a few 

 years since, upon a visit at the house of a horticultural friend, 

 who, by the way, was better acquainted with the management of 

 his fruit trees than he was with the flower-garden. His garden 

 was well laid out and kept very neat. He was taking me 

 round to show the various plants, and getting what information 

 he could out of one he supposed knew more than he did about 

 them. Presently he came to a wilderness of the French Dog 

 Roses. " There," says he, " is a lot of the choicest Roses that 

 could be obtained in France." " Indeed," says I, " they certainly 

 look very vigorous." " They do, to be sure," he replied ; " but 

 somehow or other they look very much alike, and the few 

 that flowered this year were very single." "That is very proh- 



