VIII 



PROPAGATION 



121 



that have been lessened, the plant will comparatively 

 stand still just alive till the roots have grown up to the 

 balance again. If, however, it finds itself with strong 

 powerful roots, and only two or three buds left on the 

 plant into which the sap can pass, it makes up the 

 balance as quickly as it can by unusually strong growth 

 and large fleshy leaves. 



This is what we aim at in trying to make a maiden 

 Rose plant by budding on the wild stock. We want it 

 to grow as strongly and as quickly as possible, for among 

 H.P.s the very finest blooms are thus produced and some 

 very choice varieties give their best flowers only during 

 this first year of extra strong growth. We therefore 

 bud on wild briars which have as many branches as 

 possible — knowing that each branch represents so much 

 root power below — that if one of these be removed the 

 roots will cease to increase till the balance has been 

 restored — and that if we can next spring divert the 

 root power of many wild branches to the one or two 

 buds we have inserted, the growth is sure to be extra 

 strong and fine. 



This principle is well known in the difference resulting 

 from the summer and winter pruning of fruit-trees. If 

 we cut back the strong woody shoots in summer, next 

 year's growth is partially checked because the roots 

 suffer awhile in proportion : the lower wood buds there- 

 fore ripen and consolidate to form fruit buds. But if we 

 cut back these strong shoots in winter, when there are 

 no leaves and all is at rest, the roots when they wake in 

 the spring try to make up the balance of foliage by 

 strong woody growth equal to that which has been 

 cut off. 



So is it with our standard briars. If we cut off any 

 shoots in summer we hinder the roots from attaining 



