400 
GRAFTING THE ROSE-TREE. 
FLORICULTURE. 
ARTICLE VII.—TO OBTAIN LARGE HEADS ON STANDARD ROSES 
IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME BY INARCHING. 
BY MR. THOMAS CAMERON. 
* 
The rapid improvement which has taken place in all branches of 
useful and ornamental gardening within the last few years, is per¬ 
haps in no case more conspicuous than in the delightful family 
Rosa, which for beauty and fragrance, is not only admired but stands 
unrivalled. 
Having myself practised a method by which standard Roses with 
large heads may he obtained in one season, I venture to submit it 
for the consideration of your readers, and if you think it worthy of a 
place in your useful and widely circulated periodical it may convey 
an useful hint to some of them. I do not regard the matter as an 
important improvement in rose culture since no permanent advanta¬ 
ges can be derived from it beyond the pleasure of obtaining with 
certainty a larger headed standard Rose in a shorter time than by 
any other method. I am aware that grafts frequently succeed and 
flower, but as they often fail to grow, and do not always flower, or 
make a good head the same season, I consider my method prefera¬ 
ble. It may also prove a novelty to some of your readers, for I do 
not recollect seeing it recommended by any author. 
So soon as the plants indicate the circulation of sap, I begin to 
take off the head of the stock at the proposed height, bending it so 
that the plant designed to form the head is brought close to the top 
of the stock. I pare from the stem two or three inches of the bark, 
with a portion of the wood, at the most convenient part for forming 
the junction, after which the stock is neatly made to correspond, and 
v in such a manner that the part where the union is intended to take 
place is very little increased in size. Tonguing should he avoided 
since it offers no advantage, and often serves to weaken the union. 
They should be bound together with tape or good matting, and co¬ 
vered with a little moss, which should be kept damp. Should the 
stock be very tall, or weakly, the union of the parts would be 
strengthened and accelerated by making a small slit in the stock, 
and causing it to dip in the ground, or in a pot of earth placed for 
the purpose. The slit will heal, and throw out roots, which will sup¬ 
port the head considerably; and after the head and stock are united, 
they may he pared off without the place being seen or the least in¬ 
jury being done. 
