L ayers Suckers. 



179 



occasionally watered. If layered in June and July, the free rooters will be ready 

 to take off in November. It is well, however, to examine one or two of each kind 

 to ascertain this point, as some root in an amazingly short space of time, whereas others 

 advance very slowly. It is perhaps usually safer to delay their 'removal till the follow- 

 ing Spring. When rooted, they may be cut off within an inch of the tongue, taken 

 up, and transplanted into beds, or to various spots in the garden. In the Spring they 

 may be cut down to within three or four eyes, and some of them will bloom in the first 

 Summer or Autumn. Their after-treatment is the same as that of other Roses. 



Fig- 57- LAYERING. 



6. SUCKERS. This is the least artificial of the artificial modes, though the Rose is 

 not so much inclined to multiply itself by suckers as are many plants. The Scotch 

 Rose (R. SPINOSISSIMA) is perhaps, next to the Dog Rose, most given to this pecu- 

 liarity. It pushes its shoots along under the ground, and they break through the 

 surface at various distances. It is not very often they can be separated from the 

 parent with roots ; yet the underground stems will put forth roots if carefully severed 

 and transplanted. The Autumn is the best time for doing this, and a spade with a 

 sharp edge is the fittest instrument for the purpose. 



