54 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



sand in equal parts, well mixed. In November the layers 

 may be taken up if they have rooted ; if not, they may 

 be removed the following spring, or may be left longer. 

 If the shoots are not long enough in July or August, 

 the layering may be done in October, or even in February 

 and March. The plants intended for layers should be 

 cut down very low the year before, that they may make 

 long shoots by the time they are wanted. Layering will 

 do well with all free growing roses, but it is most needed 

 for sorts which do not grow well from cuttings, such 

 as the old and other moss-roses, and Provence and Aus- 

 trian roses. 



The most satisfactory of all methods of increasing rose- 

 trees is by cuttings. Eoses on their own roots are like 

 a house founded on a rock : contingencies which destroy 

 choice roses on others' roots leave them comparatively 

 unharmed. "Within the last few years we had a winter 

 (every rose amateur will remember it) which destroyed 

 roses to such an extent, in killing down the tops, that it 

 raised the price of rose-trees 200 per cent. That year 

 we did not lose one, because ours were on their own 

 roots, and those which were cut back to the root put 

 out again. An intensely severe winter has comparatively 

 little mischievous influence over roses on their own 

 roots. Violent wind may destroy a budded standard, 

 but in the case of one on its own root you always have 

 the root left, to put out again, and to produce its own 

 kind still. On account of the stability of a rose on its 

 own root I especially recommend amateurs to increase 

 all roses which can be so grown by cuttings and non- 

 amateurs too, for the matter of that ; for certainly the 

 tree least subject to contingencies ought to have the 

 highest money value. It requires time and care to make 

 tall standards from cuttings, but it may be done, and 

 when it is, successfully, the time and care are well paid 

 for. A rose which has not stability of character to take 

 to its own root must be satisfied to use the root of 

 another : and roses differ as much in character as men 

 and women ; but I shall try to name the best sorts which 

 Will grow well from cuttings. 



