232 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



Roses to be grown well, should not be allowed to remain 

 over three or four years in the same place, which is evident 

 by the suckers coming up some distance from the mother 

 plant. If not removed, you will soon find the old plant 

 sicken and die ; the soil being deteriorated, the plant ceases 

 to exist for want of nourishment. 



To obtain good flowers the plants should be removed 

 often, and every summer or fall the old wood pruned out, 

 and mulch the roots with old manure before the winter 

 sets in, and in the spring turn it over, mixing it with the 

 soil, disturbing the roots as little as possible. 



The Rose is also propagated by grafting the more choice 

 varieties on the root of the more common kind, which is 

 done in the following manner: Take a piece of the root, 

 about four inches long, and cut a slit about one inch long, 

 down the center ; then take the scion you wish to engraft, 

 cutting it the length required (three eyes), the bottom 

 part should be cut like a wedge, which must be inserted 

 into the slit of the root; be particular in fitting the bark of 

 each as exact as possible. It should be observed that both 

 should be as near one size as possible, when done it 

 should be bound with bass firmly, so that neither can 

 separate from its position ; then take grafting wax, and 

 cover the binding, to exclude the atmospheric air from the 

 wound of the grafted part ; when completed it may be 

 planted into the open ground. After the parts are united, 

 which can easily be discovered by the growth, slacken the 

 bandage, and to prevent accident, put a small stake in the 

 ground to tie the young wood to, and it will require no fur- 

 ther trouble. Grafting is performed in the spring before 

 the sap begins to circulate. 



