124 THE BOOK OP THE ROSE chap. 



has such an advantage over the professional stock- 

 getter. It is impossible to do justice to this, the 

 very first step in successful Eose cultivation, with a 

 spade, a bill-hook, and a full-sized stock axe. It is 

 very difficult to strike accurately v?ith the last- 

 named tool in a thick place, and many is the fine 

 stock that has been grievously injured by a hasty 



jMiniature Stock Axe. 



stroke turned aside by a twig, and I am sorry to say 

 sometimes mended afterwards with putty. I use 

 my tiny stock axe almost exclusively for digging 

 round the roots, and all of any size are then severed 

 neatly and cleanly in the ground with the Grecian 

 saw. The secateurs will clear the way a bit, and 

 lop off the head, and the pruning-knife will cut 

 off and shorten all bruised roots, and make the 

 edges'smooth where the saw has done its work. The 

 result will be far better stocks than those gathered 

 by professionals, for even Mr. William Paul 



