VII 



STOCKS 



113 



(generally at an angle) from the root, should not be 

 more than an inch below the surface. No stakes will 

 be needed during the year of wild growth and budding, 

 but it is a good plan to put a thick smear of paint over 

 the pith exposed at the top of the stem. For an 

 insect pest in the spring will be on the watch for any 

 such exposed pith, even on large shoots pruned back on 

 the Rose itself, and the grubs which proceed from its 

 eggs bore down the pith, leaving a hole which holds the 

 rain water and leads to decay. 



Mr. W. D. Prior, in his useful little book upon Rose- 

 growing, suggests the cultivation of standard stocks 

 by layering. To do this, any old useless stock or 

 briar plant should be cut quite down to the ground 

 and encouraged to form side suckers running through 

 the soil for a little distance. A nick beneath the 

 underground stem of these suckers will cause them to 

 root independently, especially if a little cocoa fibre be 

 added, and rooted standard stocks will be produced. 

 But the time and trouble required for all this will not 

 be appreciated, where wild standard stocks are avail- 

 able. I have collected 1800 of these in one winter, 

 but they were not selected ones or all of first-class 

 quality. 



I feel, however, that very few amateur Rosarians will 

 appreciate with me the charms of getting standard stocks 

 from the hedges — most could not from various circum- 

 stances, if they would. The stock-man, who would prob- 

 ably say that I have been trying to take the bread out 

 of his mouth, must therefore be relied on, but if possible 

 let the barbarity of his tools, the big stock-axe and the 

 bill-hook, be pointed out, and the charms of the Grecian 

 saw explained to him. If a novice, it will be well also 

 to ascertain that he knows a Dog-Rose when he sees it. 



I 



