CHAP. XL! r. ROSA CEiE. RO SA. 805 



kind of wild rose for stocks, as already observed, is the R. canina ; and the 

 age of the plants, or the thickness of their stems, is of much less conse- 

 quence than their being healthy, straight, and free from knots. For dwarfs, 

 they need not exceed 1 ft. or 18 in. in height; but for standards they may vary 

 from 3 ft. to 6 ft. and upwards. A very convenient height for displaying the 

 rose to the human eye, is 4 ft., the head being pruned so as to rise about 

 18 in. higher. For a truly grand effect, however, and for forming avenues of 

 roses along the walks in flower-gardens, between which the beds of flowers 

 are to be seen, the stocks ought never to be less than 6 ft. high, and 7 ft. or 

 8 ft. would be better. Before planting the stock, cut it over at an angle of 

 50°, the upper part of the cut, or section, ending a quarter of an inch above 

 a bud ; or, if there are two buds nearly about the same height at the top -^ 

 of the stock, cut across from the one to the other, as in jig. 542., leaving 

 about a quarter of an inch of wood above each bud. If the slope of the 

 section is much greater than an angle of 50°, the wound will not become 

 covered with bark, at least in most cases ; and on its being completely 

 covered depends the durability of the plant. Immediately after cutting 

 the stock across, cover the wound with grafting clay, enveloping it with 

 live moss, tied on with water-proof bast ; or, as the practice is on the 

 Continent, cover it with a composition made of the following ingredients : 

 five eighths pitch, one eighth rosin, one eighth tallow, and one eighth bees' *""" 

 wax, all thoroughly incorporated ; or, one half bees' wax, and one half pitch, 

 which is the composition commonly used in France; or 1 lb. of white Bur- 

 gundy pitch, lib. black pitch, \ lb. rosin, \ lb. bees' wax, 2 oz. of tallow, 1 oz. 

 pounded mastic, and 1 oz. saltpetre, which is the mixture used in Belgium. 

 Equal parts of bees' wax and pitch, with a very little tallow added, we have 

 found the simplest and best mixture for covering wounds in ligneous plants of 

 every kind; and, for covering grafts, it has only to be mixed with a very little 

 sand. Put any of these mixtures into a pipkin, and keep it warm enough to melt, 

 for three quarters of an hour: when cooled a little, dip the extreme point of 

 each stock in it, so as to leave a portion of mixture, equal to the thickness of two 

 or three sheets of paper, over the section ; or, if you have neglected to perform 

 this essential operation till after the stocks are planted, the mixture may be 

 applied warm with a small brush. In England, this process is too generally 

 neglected ; and the section is neither covered with grafting clay, nor grafting 

 wax. The consequence of this neglect is, that the rains and the frost rot the 

 wood during winter, and the drought cracks it during summer : it decays, and 

 leaves the stock hollow; and, after being budded, and forming a head, the plant 

 is only of three or four years' duration, instead of lasting seven or eight 

 years. The nurserymen say that the price given will not repay them for 

 taking so much trouble ; but it would be much better for a purchaser to pay a 

 higher price for plants so treated, than almost any prices for those in which 

 this precaution has been neglected. When the stocks begin to push in March, 

 rub off all the buds, except such as may be close to the margin of the section, 

 which will generally be two, but never less than one, or more than four. The 

 shoots produced from these buds are intended to be budded ; and, therefore, 

 on the 1st of July, the prickles should be removed from them on the places 

 where the buds should be inserted, which ought to be not farther than 1 in. 

 from their junction with the stock. The operation of budding may be per- 

 formed from the end of July to the end of August ; supplying the stock with 

 abundance of water in dry seasons, as has been already recommended, to 

 facilitate the rising of the bark. Mornings and evenings are the best times of 

 the day for budding; and, when a northerly or easterly wind prevails, the 

 operation ought not to be attempted, on account of the drying influence of 

 these winds on the bark of the stock, as well as on the bud. In general, only 

 one sort of rose ought to be put on one stock, for reasons already given. 

 (p. 803.) 



By Seed. The common single sweet briar is always raised from seed ; and 

 sometimes, also, the dog rose, for stocks. The other sorts of roses are only 



3 h 4 



