PROPAGATION OF THE ROSE. 53 



the buds has considerably advanced. If you have one good branch, 

 it will do, but two on opposite sides are better, because you can work 

 both, and be safe if one fails. Several times, you must go over these 

 Btocks, to rub off the fresh buds that will be springing out on differeLt 

 parts of them, where they are not wanted ; and two good buds' near 

 the top are all you need save. You have to remember that all the 

 strength of the plant will go into these two branches, if the others are 

 taken f way ; but that every leaf that is allowed to grow, besides those 

 wanted, takes greatly from their strength, on which strength the value 

 of the plant entirely depends. 



If the top shoots or buds happen to be weak in the first instance, 

 compared with some lower down the stock, it is better to rub off the 

 .op, and lose a little height of the stock, than trust to dwindling 

 tranches, so that, in this case, your two branches to save might be 

 half way down the stem ; and it is better, in such case, to down at 

 once to it, that the top may be no more trouble, and may not mislead 

 you, in going over them a second time, to cut or pull out your best 

 branches ; for the top, so long as you leave it on, would be throwing 

 out its green shoots ; and being the same height as the general run of 

 them, nothing is more likely. All that is to be done, besides keeping 

 the stocks from throwing out other branches, is to cut away from the 

 roots any suckers that may come up, and which distress the stock 

 nearly as much as the dwarf branches. The ground, of course, is to 

 be kept clear of weeds until mid-summer, which is the season for bud- 

 ding, and which is the next subject for consideration. 



Being thus provided, go to your stocks with your branches of the 

 trees you want to propagate, in your apron ; for you ought to have 

 front pockets, and the bass matting should be tucked in the apron 



