268 THE FLORIST AND 



plant it in light sandy soil where it is shaded from the midday sun; 

 give frequent sprinklings of water and they will root in a few weeks. 

 Many of the hybrid perpetuals are multiplied in the same manner. 

 Layering can be practised on all sorts of roses. In July, August 

 or September take any of the young shoots that you can gently 

 bend to the ground and with a sharp knife cut off a few leaves 

 where they are in contact with the soil, at the base of each of those 

 leaves there is an eye; enter the knife just behind the bud and cut 

 towards the point of the shoot about one inch gradually into the 

 middle of the shoot ; 3^011 mil thereby form a spur about an inch 

 and a half long with an eye* at its base ; place the part thus oper- 

 ated upon about three or four inches under the soil, covering it with 

 light, sandy, rich earth, tie or peg it down, or place a small stone 

 over it; the following spring it will have rooted and can be re- 

 moved to wherever required ; on its removal cut down the shoot to 

 within a few inches of the ground, protect the remainder with a 

 small stick and the work is done. - 



Budding — is more readily accomplished and is a more pleasing 

 pastime, the requisites are a good knife, good free growing stocks, 

 with good thread of worsted, matting, or strong cotton twist. The 

 time of performance from June to October, during cloudy weather; 

 whenever the bark of the stocks will remove or rise w T ith the knife 

 showing an abundance of sap under the bark. A budding knife 

 with a thin ivory handle, is the best for the purpose. It, should be 

 inserted about half an inch above the bud, and passing about one 

 third of the way through the wood of the shoot, come out again 

 about the same distance below it, the cut being as clean as possible. 

 The portion of the bark in the centre of which the bud is situated, 

 is called the shield, and when removed it contains a portion of the 

 wood, which is to be carefully removed with the point of the knife; 

 if the wood is dry, and does not separate readily, it is a sign the bud 

 is too old, and it should be rejected. When the wood is too old or 

 too young, the shield may be taken off only about one quarter of 

 the way through the shoot, and inserted into the stock without re- 

 moving the portion of w^ood it contains; this method, particularly 

 with very young shoots, is yery successful. 



