IN CALIFORNIA 129 



and by budding or grafting. To all who are in any 

 wise grounded in knowledge of plants it is evident 

 that growing from seeds is but a harmless pastime 

 and is not indulged in by the amateur with any hope 

 of profit, for out of a thousand seedlings there may 

 not be one of any commercial value. 



Own-root roses, or those grown from cuttings, are 

 in the very strong-growing sorts the most glorious 

 and permanently satisfactory of all. But there are 

 so many fine sorts that are either weakly or very 

 ordinary on their own roots that the amateur who 

 purchases had better procure budded roses, unless 

 he be well posted on the specific needs of the varie- 

 ties he most desires. Grafting in effect is similar 

 to budding. If skillfully done it may be slightly 

 superior, but for reasons not necessary to state it 

 is not so practical for commercial purposes. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS 



From November 1 to January is the proper sea- 

 son for propagating roses from cuttings, for the 

 reason that during the cool weather of the rainy 

 season the cuttings will callous, continue the proc- 

 ess, and root throughout the winter, starting top 

 growth in late winter. Cuttings taken later do not 

 have time to get calloused and rooted before active 

 top growth is induced by warm weather, and the 

 result is comparatively weakly plants. 



Use well-cured wood, full of dormant eyes, from 

 the diameter of a lead pencil up to a half -inch, con- 

 taining three or four eyes or buds which will make 

 them four to six inches in length. Cut the lower 

 end from a quarter-inch below a bud, through the 

 cane on about a forty-five degree angle, using a very 

 sharp knife having a thin blade. Cut the top end 

 a half -inch above a bud; there is no need of super- 



