ROSES THAT BLOOM IN JUNE. 79 



that has come in contact with the soil make a hole 

 four inches deep, and about the same width ; have 

 a portion of prepared sandy rich loam (if your 

 soil is not naturally such) at hand ; bend the shoot 

 in the hole, and look for a bud so situated as 

 to come about three inches under the surface; 

 then take a very sharp knife and commence by 

 cutting oiF all the leaves that will be under ground ; 

 introduce the blade just below the bud and cut 

 upwards so as to cut about half-way through, and 

 make a slit about two inches long, thereby forming 

 what gardeners call a " tongue ;" this should be 

 done at the side or back part of the shoot, and to 

 prevent the tongue from closing introduce a portion 

 of the soil, or a chip of any hard substance, which 

 will keep it open, then lay it carefully in the space 

 prepared, and fill up with the fresh compost, leav- 

 ing the top of the shoot in as upright a position as 

 possible ; to finish, make it fast to a small rod to 

 prevent the wind from blowing it about. The 

 tongue should not be in the very spot that forms 

 the bow, as thereby the branch would be too much 

 weakened ; the lower eye of the upright portion of 

 the shoot is the most successful spot. When the 

 whole is done place the stone or block on the sur- 

 face, over the layer, which will prevent the sun 

 from drying the earth, and greatly facilitate the 

 growth of the roots. In the month of November 



