PROPAGATION BY GRAFTIKG. 59 



suckers spring up in abundance from the roots; these would soon rob 

 the head or worlied part of a great portion of its nourishment ; but 

 these suckers are useful when taken off with a good portion of root to 

 them, because there is not a more certain mode of propagating the 

 Rose than neatly grafting a piece of the wood of a Rose on the root 

 just under the surface ; the union is almost certain, if at all dexterously 



done. The proper mode of doing this, is to puU up the sucker, which 

 will expose the root some distance, and take off a good piece of root 

 with it from the parent stock ; cut the sucker completely off to the 

 part that was on the surface of the ground ; get a piece of the wood 

 of a Rose as nearly the size of the root as possible, out a sUt in the 

 root, making DOth cuts smooth and flat inside ; then cut the scion 

 wedge fashion, and make the bark fit it even with the outer cuticle of 

 the root ; tie them well together, and plant them so that the entire 

 graft goes under the surface of the ground. These root grafts are 

 excellent for dwarf plants, for they are worked actually under ground, 

 and when well done they make excellent plants. Grafting the Rose is 

 not chosen before budding ; but, as there is always a good deal of 

 waste wood in a rose tree that has to come off in spring, many give 

 grafting a chance ; and of grafting, root grafting is one of the most 

 effective. There is never any scarcity of roots among a collection of 

 roses ; forking the ground a httle brings up these straggling shoots ; 

 and so that there be a good piece of healthy stuff, there is no difSculty 

 in making a good job. There is no occasion to clay over the join in 

 root grafting. 



-There is another advantage in root grafting: it is apphcable with 

 the China kinds all the season through, if you make sure of a healthy 

 root ; nor is there any diflSculty in obtaining proper roots for the pur- 



