THE MANSE GARDEN. 237 



top a branch of the Ayrshire rose grafted at inter- 

 vals, and dropping down all the varieties of rose tint, 

 has an effect not to be described. Young suckers 

 should be removed in October, and set apart, to be- 

 come good plants. Several sorts, as the China, In- 

 dian, 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 flowerbearing trees may be kept for 

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

 plant a few bushes in April. 



Stockgilbjflower, or Ten-weeks' -stock. Though 

 set down in the list of annuals, this is a much finer 

 flower when treated as a biennial. If seed pro- 

 cured from nurseries has been raised in warmer cli- 

 mates, the plants uniformly run to flower too early, 

 and the biennial treatment becomes impracticable. 

 Home-grown seed should be saved in higher situa- 

 tions; in lower, the Brompton stock is more favour- 

 able for keeping over winter. In sowing the seed, 



