PEOPAGATIOX OF THE ROSE. 



119 



though fin incision is always the most certain, and it is 

 uniformly practiced, roots will in many varieties strike 

 easily from the buds ; and a common operation in France 

 is simply to peg down the branches in the soil, without 

 any incision ; in some cases, they give the branch a sudden 

 twist, which will break or bruise the bark, and facilitate 

 the formation of roots. 



Some Chinese authors state that very long branches 

 may be laid down, and that roots may be thus obtained 

 from all the eyes upon them, which Vvdll eventually form 

 as many j^lants. 



Vibert, a well-known rose cultivator in France, remarks 

 upon this point : " Upon laying down with the requisite 

 care some branches fifteen to twenty-four inches long, of 

 the new growth, or of tliat of the previous year, and up- 

 on taking them up with similar care, after twelve or 

 eighteen months, I found only the first eyes expanded into 

 buds or roots, while the rest had perished. I have seldom 

 seen the fifth eye developed, while I have frequently 

 known the whole branch entirely perish. I speak in gen- 

 eral terms, for there are some rare exceptions, and the 

 difierent varieties of the Four-seasons Rose may be cited 

 as proof that a great number of eyes of the same branch 

 have taken root." 



This is the opinion of an eminent rose grower ; but if, 

 as he states, the Monthly Damask Rose will root freely in 

 this way, many of the smooth-wooded roses Avould un- 

 doubtedly root still more readily, and our rapid growing 

 native rose, Queen of the Prairies, would very probably 

 throw out roots readily, when treated in this manner. It 

 is worth repeated experiment ; for, if rapid growing roses, 

 like some of the evergreen varieties, the Greville, and the 

 Queen of the Prairies, could with facility be made to grow 

 in this way, rose hedges could be easily formed by laying 

 down whole branches, and a very beautiful and effective 



