^pn7.] l'isle de bourbon roses. 65 



scion in contact, which must be held firmly and bound with 

 ligatures of soft bast-mat or worsted, and, in order to render 

 it water-proof, cover it with a paste made of pitch and bees- 

 wax, or clay mixed with old slaked lime ; if the latter is 

 used, it will sometimes crack, which must be carefully filled 

 up. In August or September, the ligatures may be cut on 

 one side, allowing the clay or wax to be displaced with the 

 natural growth of the plant. Should the graft fail, you have 

 still the resource of budding in August on the young shoots 

 that will grow from the stock. It must be observed that 

 grafting leaves a worse wound to heal over than budding, 

 unless the stock and scion be nearly of the same size. Every 

 bud which appears below the graft should be carefully rub- 

 bed off, except one or two nearest the crown, to encourage 

 the sap upward to the grafts; and as soon as the latter begin 

 to throw out leaves, the shoots from the stock should be 

 shortened, and in one or two weeks more entirely taken off, 

 if the scion has fairly grown. For whip-grafting ^ seepage 59 



L'ISLE DE EOURBON ROSES. 



This group of Hoses is one of the finest in the whole 

 family of the Queen of Flowers. They are generally 

 perfectly hardy, of luxuriant growth, and will grow almost 

 in any soil. They are profuse in blooming from June to 

 October, and many of them delightful in fragrance. Th^y 

 are flowering ornaments of the garden, either as standards, 

 climbers, or bushes ; their foliage is large, exuberant and 

 agreeable, and when the plants are established and well nur- 

 tured, they produce their flowers in immense clusters. There 

 are now many varieties ; the talent and ingenuity of the 

 French in rose culture and reproduction will soon give the 

 floral world a farther supply of some fine varieties, and many 

 finer names. I can cheerfully recommend the following sorts, 

 which require pruning similar to hybrid Roses : — 



Acidalie, rose white, large and perfect. 

 Anne Beluze, waxy blush, very perfect in form. 

 Bouquet de Flore, bright rose, large flower, and a profuse 

 bloomer. 



Desgaches, pale waxy rose, flat form, very distinct. 



6* 



