24 Roses for Amateurs. 



from cuttings than others; but these will be generally found 

 to be those of a weak constitution. 



Grafting. 



This is another method of propagation which is used by 

 growers for sale, but is a more difficult process, and is mostly 

 resorted to with new Roses where it is desirable rapidly to 

 increase the stock, and also for those hard-wooded varieties 

 that are with difficulty increased by the other means. January 

 is the best month, but as grafting requires heated houses it 

 is ill-suited to the small amateur. Whip-grafting is the 

 method chiefly in vogue, though Cleft- and Wedge-grafting 

 are also employed. 



Division. 



Though not often practised by amateurs, yet it is a well- 

 known fact that some Roses e.g., R. spinosissima, Austrian 

 Briars, and the lovely little Fairy Roses may be divided up, 

 taking care that each piece required to furnish a plant is 

 well provided with roots. 



Layering. 



Dwarf or Weeping Roses may be layered in June by 

 bending down a selected shoot, notching it and tonguing it. 

 Tonguing is per formed by cutting half through the shoot 

 an inch below a joint in a slanting direction and then con- 

 tinuing upwards through the middle to about an inch above 

 the node, so that an open slit is formed without completely 

 severing the shoot, and afterwards pegging it into the soil 

 in such a manner that the slit remains open, thus causing a 

 partial obstruction to the downward flow of the elaborated 

 sap as it descends and inducing the formation of roots. By 

 November roots will have formed, and the young plant may 

 be severed from the parent and assigned a position in bed 

 or border. 



