150 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE chap. 



by a sharp knife with a thumb-nail pressed against 

 the other side of the bud, quite low down and close 

 to the socket : in a week or two the small dormant 

 buds which are always in existence on each side of 

 a healthy one will begin to show, and the operation 

 will be successful. 



It is absolutely necessary that the growing shoot 

 be tied to some support as soon as possible, and that 

 care should be taken throughout the first season to 

 see that it is really secure. Great caution should be 

 used in making the first ties with a strong stiff 

 shoot— the union is very insecure, and even a crack 

 from bending too much, or a sudden jar, may ruin 

 all in a moment. Never mind spoiling the shape or 

 look of the plant ; we may think of that next year. 

 The union is not perfect, at least for some time, 

 during the first season, and the shoot is generally 

 top-heavy. The finer the growth, and the better 

 the head formed, the more certain it is to be blown 

 out if not securely tied. Nothing is more aggravat- 

 ing than to come out some morning in summer and 

 find the whole thing blown clean out of the stock. 

 The plant is absolutely destroyed, and all the time 

 and labour from the first getting of the stock are 

 simply thrown away. 



It is best not to try to be economical in such a 

 case, or when buds have failed, by budding on the 

 same stock again. Fresh stocks are better in every 

 way, and briar cuttings whose buds have failed will 

 not form good dwarf standard stocks for the next 

 year, though I have often tried them. 



Bamboos are now the best stakes and supports, 

 at all events of a temporary nature. Budded stocks 

 of manetti, briar cuttings, and seedlings should 



