22 THE BOOK OP ROSES. 



rose-tree is disinclined to produce suckers, they 

 are in some instances to be multiplied by 

 cutting down the tree to the root. In other 

 cases, earth should be heaped up round the tree 

 and the stem cut down to its level, when the 

 shoots of the tree are likely to take root in the 

 embankment. 



PROPAGATION BY LAYERING. A rose-tree 

 may be layered in the same mode as any other 

 shrub, and takes root with facility. By slips, 

 it is not so easy of propagation ; nevertheless, 

 with a tanpit and bell glasses, very few varieties 

 but may be forced to take root. This method 

 is employed only when others are unavailable, 

 or where it is necessary to produce a rapid 

 multiplication of some rare variety. Monsieur 

 Noisette, one of the first rose-growers in Europe, 

 has been known to obtain plants from a rose 

 of which he possessed only a small fragment 

 of the flower-stalk. Generally speaking, it is 

 desirable to propagate only China roses, and 

 their varieties, from slips; selecting the young 

 branches which have not attained a ligneous 

 consistency. 



Slips are planted in spring, chosen from wood 

 of the preceding year. They should be cut 

 about five or six inches in length, the leaves, if 

 any, taken off, and plunged in a pot or border 

 of bog-earth, under an opaque bell glass. They 

 may be planted near together, as there will al- 



