viii PROPAGATION 137 



But if roots or shoots are cut off during the sleep 

 of winter, no immediate check is given by either to 

 the other, and the first thing the plant does when it 

 wakes up in the spring is to try to restore the 

 balance. If it finds itself with a large growth above 

 ground and roots that have been lessened, the plant 

 will comparatively stand still just alive till the roots 

 have grown up to the balance again. If, however, 

 it finds itself with strong powerful roots, and only 

 two or three buds left on the plant into which the 

 sap'can pass, it makes up the balance as quickly as it 

 can by unusually strong growth and large fleshy 

 leaves. 



This is what we aim at in trying to make a 

 maiden Bose plant by budding on the wild stock. 

 We want it to grow as strongly and quickly as pos- 

 sible, for among H.P.s the very finest blooms are thus 

 produced, and some very choice varieties give their 

 best flowers only during this first year of extra 

 strong growth. We therefore bud on wild briars 

 which have as many branches as possible — knowing 

 that each branch represents so much root power 

 below — that if one of these be removed the roots 

 will cease to increase till the balance has been 

 restored — and that if we can next spring divert the 

 root power of many wild branches to the one or two 

 buds we have inserted, the growth is sure to be 

 extra strong and fine. 



This principle is well known in the difference 

 resulting from the summer and winter pruning of 

 fruit-trees. If we pinch back the strong leafy 

 shoots in summer, next year's growth is partially 

 checked because the roots suffer awhile in pro- 

 portion : the lower wood buds therefore ripen and 



