, ROSE. 283 



year and keeping the blossom low. A fine effect is 

 produced by laying the branches beneath the ground, 

 and erecting only a few inches of the top, thus 

 covering the parterre with a carpet of rose bloom. 

 What are called rosebaskets are no beauty; but 

 along the side of the walk, a piece of lath rail of in- 

 visible green planted thick with China roses, which 

 blossom all the year, and having along the top a 

 branch of the Ayrshire rose grafted at intervals, and 

 dropping down all the varieties of rose tint has an 

 effect not to be described. Young sucket, should 

 be removed in October, and set apart, to become 

 good plants. Several sorts, as the China, Indian, 

 and Ayrshire, grow from slips; but the sure way 

 of propagation for all the tribe is to make layers, 

 which, especially of any rare sort, ought not to be 

 neglected, as some are not prolific in offsets, and 

 all old roots cease to yield good flowers. Dig the 

 ground about the roots early in spring or in autumn, 

 if not troubled with wet, in winter; and with hooked 

 pegs, fix the branches of one year's growth three 

 inches below the surface, paring off a little of the 

 bark, or giving the branch a sharp twist at the 

 place where the peg is inserted ; then raise the head 

 of the layer, and firm the soil about it. Of such as 

 make roots but slowly, it is proper to continue the 

 layer in its place for two seasons, having it detached 

 from the parent stem one year before removal. By 

 such care no good plant will be lost ; and a succes- 

 sion of good flower-bearing trees may be kept for 

 any length of time. To have late flowers, trans- 

 plant a few bushes in April. 



