94 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



follow ; at another it may be months before it takes place, and 

 therefore in such cases it is advisable not to be in any hurry 

 to throw away the contents of the boxes. In the spring, the 

 seedlings may either be planted out in nursery-beds, about i2in. 

 apart, or potted separately into " sixties," and afterwards potted 

 on as often as may prove necessary, to be finally planted 

 out in October. 



Cuttings. — All Roses root freely from cuttings if put in at the 

 proper season, and the most certain and best time is when the 

 wood is about half-ripened. Young wood of this description, 

 about 5in. or 6in. in length, and with only the lowest leaf 

 removed, put in firm, sandy soil, 2in. or 3in. deep, in a close 

 frame or hand-light, and kept shaded from the sun, will root 

 very quickly, and make nice plants before winter. Another 

 mode is to put the cuttings in a house or frame with a nice 

 bottom-heat, keeping them moist and shaded. These form roots 

 more rapidly than those put in a cold close frame or hand-light. 

 When the rooting process is completed air should be admitted 

 and gradually increased until the plants will bear full exposure. 

 If the plants are wanted for forcing purposes, they should be 

 potted, and grown on vigorously for a year or so ; their strength 

 will thus be increased, and a moderate supply of fine flowers will 

 be produced. Another method is to put in cuttings in October 

 or immediately after all the foliage has fallen, placing them in 

 firm, sandy soil, in a shady position, and covering with a frame 

 or hand-light. These cuttings may be 6in. or Sin. long, and 

 inserted about half their length, and, unless the winter is 

 exceptionally severe, a good proportion will grow and form roots 

 in the following spring. 



Stocks. — ^Very much in favour of the Rose on its own roots 

 could be said, as, for instance, the absence of suckers, and the 

 growth from below the surface after all wood above the soil has 

 been killed by a severe winter ; but as the process is too slow 

 in many cases, and not always the best in others, a consideration 

 of what really are the best stocks may be useful. Where vigour 

 is required there is no question that the seedling Briar, or 

 common Dog Rose, is the best, and many nurserymen now 

 largely employ this stock, alike for standard, half-standard, 

 climbing, and bush Roses. In the winter months, men collect 

 stout, vigorous Briars, of suitable growth, from the hedgerows, 

 and sell the stocks thus obtained to nurserymen. These are 

 planted in good ground, and budded the following season. As 



