ON ROSES. 



95 



a rule, those stocks with the largest thorns and hooked down- 

 wards are the best, making the most vigorous growth, and bearing 

 the finest flowers ; and further, they have the longest life. Some 

 of the Briar stocks are covered with a multitude of short, sharp 

 prickles : these are seldom satisfactory for many years, and do 

 not produce good flowers, or very many in quantity. 



For dwarf plants, to be grown in beds out in the open, or in 

 pots or beds under glass, there is considerable difference of 

 opinion as to whether the Briar or the Manetti is the better 

 stock. After many years' trials of the two kinds, both under 

 glass and outside, it has been forced upon us that the Briar is 

 the better, producing more vigorous and floriferous plants, as 

 well as cleaner and finer flowers than plants similar in age 

 and treatment worked upon the Manetti. In winters of extra- 

 ordinary severity the Briar is much hardier, and is rarely killed 

 outright, while whole beds on the Manetti have been absolutely 

 destroyed. No doubt some few varieties do succeed better 

 on the Manetti, but, as a general rule, the Briar, or common 

 Dog Rose, particularly if seedling Briars, is the best stock 

 for Roses generally, in whatever form they may be grown 

 and cultivated. 



Budding. — This interesting operation should be performed at 

 the end of June, or as early in July as possible, when the bark 

 will lift readily, or " run " from the wood. A very good test 

 is to try if the pricks will break off freely 

 without pulling away any of the bark ; if 

 so, the bark, as a rule, will be raised easily 

 from the wood. The same rule also applies 

 to the wood and bark of the Rose from 

 which the bud is taken. The bud should 

 be plump, and the wood fairly hard and 

 mature. With a sharp knife cut out the 

 shoot, with about ^in. of bark above and 

 below the bud (Fig. 46, a), and not quite 

 half-way through ; then gently detach or 

 draw out the wood from the bark (Fig. 

 46, b), and insert at once on the stock in ^ 

 a T-shaped cut under the bark, tying it firmly with raffia or 

 matting to bind the bark of the stock over that of the bud. 

 Showery weather is the best for all budding operations, as not 

 only is there a full flow of sap, feeding the bud and keeping it 

 plump, but the shade more or less present in such weather is 



Fig. 46. — A, Bud with 

 Wood intact ; b, 

 Bud with Wood 



REMOVED. 



