110 THE SUMMER ROSE GARDEN. 



plate, i. e. the piece of bark with the bud attached, 

 so that it fits closely to the diagonal cut at top ; 

 then bind it up firmly with cotton twist, such as 

 the tallow-chandlers use for the wicks of candles ; 

 the finest quality is best : this is the most eligible 

 binding known, and far preferable to matting or 

 worsted. Many writers recommend the wood to 

 be left in the plate : in cases where the bud is un- 

 ripe this may be very well ; but, as a general rule, 

 always remove it. Take buds that are mature, 

 and, by placing the thumb nail at the top of the 

 plate, peel cleanly the wood from the bark : if a 

 remnant of wood is left on or near the eye of the 

 bud, let it remain; it will do no harm; but if 

 attempted to be removed, the eye is liable to be 

 bruised and injured. Budding may be commenced 

 in June, and performed as late as the second 

 week in September; if done in June, the only 

 shoots fit to take buds from are those that have 

 shed their bloom: on these alone the buds are 

 mature. I have occasionally known them to suc- 

 ,ceed in October. After August it is at the best 

 uncertain, as the success of the operation entirely 

 depends upon the state of the weather. In taking 

 the wood from the bark, it will seem occasionally 

 as if the eye or root of the bud is dragged out ; 

 it will then appear hollow : this only appears so, 

 and is not of the least consequence, at least w T ith 

 roses, as those apparently hollow buds take as 

 readily as those with the eye prominent. 



