ON THE CULTURE OF ROSES, 
141 
to be preserved, by cuttings, for such as the R. indica, semperjlorens, Banksia , 
noisette, &c., by suckers, as in the Provence and French roses. See., by seeds when 
new varieties are wanted, and by budding and grafting when standards are wanted, 
or a variety of coloured flowers on one bush. 
13. Layering is performed thus. In the beginning of July, just when the tree 
is coming into flower, having provided yourself with a sharp knife, and a few 
hooked pegs, commence by taking hold of the shoot intended to be layered, and 
make an incision just below a bud on the upper side of the branch, making your 
knife pass half way up to the next bud above ; then give the branch a slight twist, 
that the part so cut may rest upon the soil; stick in your peg, to hold it in its 
place, and cover it up with soil, to about the depth of two inches. The custom of 
layering without the incision retards their striking so long, that very often they are 
not fit to separate from the stools until the following spring ; whereas if the incision 
be made, they seldom require more than two months, or at most, three, if the 
weather be favourable. 
14. Cuttings. There are very few, except the indica, semperjlorens, Sec., and 
their varieties, which appear to strike freely from cuttings. Any time in May is 
the best time for putting them in ; after having prepared a quantity, plant them, 
under a hand-glass on a north aspect, in a composition of leaf mould and light loam, 
well broken or sifted. 
15. Make each cutting not less than four joints long, and not more than six ; trim 
off* the leaves only from that part which is to be inserted in the earth, and leave all 
the other leaves entire. 
16. Always form the cuttings of the young shoots produced the same season ; but 
this should never be done until the wood possesses a sufficient firmness and consist- 
ency, that is, when it becomes little less than half ripened. With regard, therefore, 
to the exact time of taking them off*, the propagator must, to a certain extent, be 
governed by the situation in which the plants grow, or the sorts intended to be 
propagated. 
17* Cuttings planted during May or the beginning of June will be ready to pot 
off* in September : those planted in July may be potted about the end of the 
following April, and those planted in August will be ready for potting the following 
May or June. 
18. All rose cuttings put in after June, should he planted on a south or 
south-east aspect, because, having to stand in that situation throughout the winter, 
they will receive the benefit of the morning and mid-day sun during that period, 
which will greatly assist their growth : whilst on the other hand, if they are planted 
on a north border and the winter be very wet, they will be liable to perish in 
consequence of having no sun to dry up the superfluous moisture. 
19. A moderate supply of water during the summer months in all aspects is 
indispensable; this should be given with a fine rose, early in the morning, and 
the glasses should be left off* for half an hour afterwards ; or the cuttings may be 
exposed to occasional warm gentle showers. In winter, however, this practice must 
be totally discontinued. 
20. Keep them perfectly free from dead leaves and weeds, particularly during 
the winter season. Q 
VOL. i. — no. vi. 
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