62 LITTLE GARDENS 
How to Bud Roses.—Rose budding is very interesting work. 
Thousands of amateurs possess Rose trees that do not bear good 
blooms; but by inserting buds from newer and better varieties 
they may soon obtain a crop of beautiful flowers. Further, some 
sorts are naturally weak in growth, but produce lovely Roses; these 
varieties are considerably strengthened by being budded or worked 
on naturally strong growers. In our hedgerows we find stocks— 
splendid stocks—suitable for standards and half standards. A Rose 
bud is borne in the axil of the leaf on a young shoot—between the 
leafstalk and the shoot. These are naturally formed buds, and are 
found on the whole length of each young growth. The best buds 
for budding purposes are those taken from the centre of the shoot. 
_The Best Time for Budding.—The character of the season 
should guide us, to some extent, in the matter of budding. For 
instance, if the weather has been very hot and dry with early 
growth in spring, budding should be commenced at the end of 
June. But if the weather has been cold and the growth of young 
wood somewhat late, then the middle of July will be quite early 
enough to commence the work of budding. It is essential to 
success that there shall be a free flow of sap, not only in the bud 
bearing wood, but also in the stock. There must be free rooting 
action and perfect health of both stock and bud. Showery weather 
is favourable to the work of budding, as then the sap rises freely 
and the bark may be easily raised from the hard wood, while the 
small portion of hard wood adhering to the bud when the latter is 
severed from the shoot is readily removed. All shoots containing 
buds to be used should be kept in a pail of water from the moment 
they are cut from the tree or bush. A sharp knife should be used 
for cutting out the buds, and also for making incisions in the branch 
of the stock. 
The smooth end of the handle of the budding knife, or a snrooth 
wedge shaped piece of Oak or bone, must be inserted to raise the 
bark—not the blade of a knife. Strands of worsted may be. 
used for wrapping around the stock and bud to keep the latter in 
position. The buds must be inserted the moment they are prepared 
and not kept for several hours before they are put into the slit in 
the stock. Dip each bud in water before inserting it, and tie the 
worsted round it before the moisture dries up. A portion of the 
leafstalk should be retained. It is useful as a means of handling 
the bud, and, further, it contains sap which will, for a short time, 
help to support the bud. 
_ Fig. 1 shows the stem of a Rose tree at A, and the branches B, B 
with the bark cut across and lengthwise prior to its being raised. 
Fig. 2 shows a bud as cut from the branch. 
Fig. 3 shows the top of the bud cut off at the dark line. 
Fig. 4 shows the base of the bud exposed after the hard wood is 
deftly removed. 
Fig. 5 shows at A the bark raised. 
