VIII PROPAGATION 139 



than it is upon such a rampant hedge of thorny 

 growth as will be formed by a row of unrestricted 

 stocks if they have grown well. But the knowledge 

 that all this prickly luxuriance represents the power 

 we are going to put into the growth of our buds 

 next season should be an encouragement for a bold 

 attack, and a comforter against thorny assaults. 

 The branches should be carefully shifted and turned 

 aside to expose the places for operation, and the 

 thorns can be compelled to make themselves useful, 

 as the branches will catch and hold to one another 

 wherever laid without tpng. 



The principal time for budding is the latter part 

 of July and the whole month of August. I have 

 successfully budded Eoses out of doors in each of 

 the seven months commencing with April and 

 ending with October, and there would not be much 

 difficulty in finding stocks in the proper condition 

 in June and September, but to get buds in the right 

 state would then be more difficult. Manetti stocks 

 may be well budded with hardy H.P.s as late as 

 September ; but commencement should be made 

 with the Teas first of all if possible. This is not 

 only because the inserted Tea bud will thereby 

 become better ripened and more able to withstand 

 the winter, but also because these buds, in many 

 of the varieties, are difficult to procure, and it is 

 good policy to begin early, and use them whenever 

 they can be got. 



The illustration on the next page may be of service, 

 but for all manual operations example is far better 

 than precept, and I would strongly recommend the 

 seeing it done by an old hand, even if only once, 

 in preference to relying upon descriptions or figures 



