Superphosphate of lime is an excellent fer- 

 tilizer for roses and should always predominate 

 in any formula. It imparts vigour and solidity 

 to growth, and moderate, sturdy and healthy 

 foliage. Potash assists in the production of 

 fine flower buds. Iron and soot water add 

 increased depth and brilliancy to the blooms; 

 and sulphate of ammonia increases their size 

 and brightness of colour. 



Roses are propagated in various ways, by 

 seeds, cuttings, layers and budding or graft- 

 ing. Budding, however, is the method of 

 propagation most commonly used. No tools 

 are required for the operation except a budding 

 knife. It is first necessary to raise stock 

 plants of the hardy pink rose called " Edward." 

 Cuttings of this rose should be inserted in pre- 

 pared beds three inches apart in the months 

 of October and November. Convenient beds 

 are six to ten feet long by three or four feet 

 broad. The cuttings will throw out roots in 

 from twenty to thirty days. In the course of 

 five or six months, or at the approach of the 

 next monsoon, they will have formed enough 

 roots to stand transplanting. 



About five months after transplanting the 

 stock is ready for budding. Meanwhile one 

 single^ shoot or two at the most should be 

 encouraged to grow straight up by pruning off 

 at frequent intervals all lateral growths so 

 that good, straight, healthy stocks will be 

 available for budding. A piece of bark con- 

 taining the bud is taken from the variety 

 desired to be increased and all the leaves cut 

 off leaving the stalks for convenience of 

 handling. Any wood which might have come 

 away with the bud must be removed ; this must 

 be cleanly removed without taking with it 

 the soft growth which forms the inside of the 

 bud. If the bud is in the right condition, the 



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