THE EOSE AND ITS CULTURE. 



78 



number and importance tlie standard briars, while 

 briar-roots as stocks have never been popular. 

 Entering some Eose nurseries towards the end 

 of the year, one's first thought might well be, 

 "They are going into the fire-lighting trade." 

 Huge heaps of small pieces of stick from nine inches 

 to eighteen or more long are scattered about, and 



With proper care in the selection, insertion, and 

 after-treatment of the cuttings, the majority of these 

 will root firmly, and the whole may be grafted or 

 budded within one year, or at the most eighteen 

 months or two years, of the time of insertion. Unless 

 in very dry weather in the spring or summer after 

 planting, when a good soaking of water might prove 



EOSA CANINA. 



little but the sharp sound of the bill-hook is heard 

 as it chops away from morning to night, adding to 

 the size of the heap. These are briar cuttings ; and 

 presently after the chopping will come the planting ; 

 and acre after acre of these will be planted in closely- 

 crowded rows from eighteen inches to two feet apart, 

 and from six to nine inches between the cuttings. 

 These are generally dug and trod firmly in as the work 

 proceeds, leaving from two to four eyes above ground. 



useful, all the attention these cuttings need till they 

 are worked is keeping clear of weeds. 



Seedling Briar Stocks.— These are the most 

 formidable rivals to standard briars and briar 

 cuttings that have yet appeared. Were it not 

 for the fact that the seeds vegetate slowly, and 

 come up at irregular intervals over a period of 

 two years, and that the plants in many localities 



