54 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



In planting dwarfs the point of union should be, if the 

 stock be manetti, two inches below the surface, and 

 one inch if the plants are budded on briar cuttings. 

 The Rose will then throw out roots of its own, which 

 will not only help to feed it, but being nearer the sur- 

 face will also hold the plant more securely against being 

 rocked and loosened by the wind. Now therefore may 

 be seen the immense disadvantage of a dwarf plant 

 which is not budded sufficiently low on the stem : either 

 the roots must be placed too deep or the point of union 

 must be left uncovered. Order therefore with short 

 " legs," and " see that you get them." It should be 

 mentioned that Mr. Prince of Oxford, who is the 

 principal advocate and the largest user of the seedling 

 briar, does not advocate the covering of the point of 

 union with this stock. I have seen some of his dwarf 

 " cutbacks " on the seedling briar which certainly were 

 flourishing exceedingly with the point of union two 

 inches above the surface; but with the briar cutting 

 I have found Roses do not thrive so well if thus planted, 

 and with the manetti it is absolutely imperative that 

 the point of union be well covered, or the plants will 

 assuredly die. 



Standards must be securely staked at the time of 

 planting, and it is better when the hole is made to 

 put in the stake before any of the roots are covered, 

 or otherwise some of the best of them may be inad- 

 vertently bruised and injured. All the plants for the 

 day having been put in, some more soil should be added 

 to each plant, and then tread but lightly, make the sur- 

 face level, and look to the row again in a few days with a 

 rake, filling depressions and doing away with any 

 cracks that may appear. This will be better than 

 treading too heavily at the time of planting. If the 



