•250 
On the Cultivation af the Rose. 
llie upper eight or ten inches of the stock; or if two only are inserted, 
they sliould be placed on opposite sides. 
The criterion for judging the proper time for summer almost 
any kind of tree or shrub, and which proves nearly unerring, is this :— 
when the bud at the extremity of the same year’s shoot is just formed, 
that scion of buds is then in a fit state for use. With respect to Roses, 
liowever, experience has convinced me that their summer budding should 
not be commenced before August; although tolerable success may attend 
the execution of it in July. But worked thus early, a portion of the 
buds will commence growing the same season, at a period when it is 
too late to ripen their wood sufficiently before the commencement of 
frosts; and the usual result is, that some are injured, and others entirely 
killed in severe weather: whereas the buds inserted in August generally 
remain dormant until the following spring, when they push forth with 
unimpaired strength. 
In arid situations, or in dry summers, watering the stocks copiously, 
for two or three weeks previous to working them, will give strength to 
their shoots, and ensure the bark rising freely; which latter point, as 
stated before, is very essential towards obtaining complete success. It 
may however be observed, that with common care, scarcely a bud out of 
a score will miss. 
In preparing the bud, it is unnecessary to adhere to the common prac¬ 
tice of removing the bit of wood at the back, which is taken along with 
it from the scion. Omitting to do this saves much trouble, and the un¬ 
failing success attending the mode, (partially acted on by others,) has 
been established and confirmed to my satisfaction by the results of re¬ 
peated trials made by myself. Cloudy weather, or the evening, should 
be chosen for inserting the buds; an operation which ought never to be 
attempted under a hot sun, or in cold east or north-east winds. 
The injurious eft’ects of the east wind at the time of budding or graft¬ 
ing being executed, are acknowledged and noted by ancient as well as 
modern writers. Tusser, in his “ Five Hundred Points of Good Hus¬ 
bandry,” (London, 1557,) says, 
“Ill March is good grafting, the skilful do know, 
“ So long as the wind in the East do not blow'.” 
In ligatures, common cotton tape, rather more than the eighth of an 
inch wide, answers better than bass, because it is ready without trouble, 
is pleasanter to use, and more portable. It has also the recommendation 
of cheapness;—a piece of it containing eighteen yards, may be had of 
any mercer for three-halfpence. When the ligatures a])pear to indent 
the stock they should be removed or loosened after about six weeks from 
the time they were put on; but if no injury of the sort is perceptible, 
they may be suffered to remain until the end of February, or the begin¬ 
ning of March, and^then taken off altogether. 
