SUMMER TREATMENT OF ROSE-STOCKS. 
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fast growers, the plants require to be divided every fifth or sixth year. During the growing 
season a brisk moist heat is necessary, but through the blooming and dormant season a rather 
low and comparatively dry temperature is preferable."-—A. 
ON THE SUMMER TREATMENT OF ROSE-STOCKS, AND THE SEASON FOR 
BUDDING THEM. 
By Mr. J. SAUL, Durdham Down Nurseries, Bristol. 
f T may not be unacceptable to offer a few remarks on the summer management of Rose-stocks, with 
a hint or two on budding the same, seeing to what an extent Roses are now annually budded, not 
only by the nurserymen but by amateurs. It is for the latter class especially that these few 
remarks are intended. Every observer of this favourite flower must be struck by the immense 
number of Rose-stocks collected every winter; not for nurserymen alone, for great quantities find 
their way into the small gardens alike of the country cottager and town tradesmen. The number of 
the latter in the environs of every town and city in this country at the present day, who cultivate 
Roses and bud their own plants, is really prodigious; and we ought not to be surprised at this when 
we consider how enchanting and delightfully pleasing are flowers of every description, and more 
particularly the Rose. The tradesman, who is confined to business in town all day, spends with 
delight his few leisure horns, dining the morning and evening, with his favourite flowers—those gems 
of nature. To tend them with care is his greatest pleasure, and, if he is fortunate in budding his 
favourite Roses, what a source of gratification is it to him! How amply does he consider himself 
repaid! It is to assist in his pleasing occupations that the'following remarks are offered. 
I shall suppose the Rose-stocks to have been collected during the past autumn, or not later than 
the beginning of January; to have been trimmed pretty closely at the root, cutting off all knots or 
decayed parts, and leaving but little of the old stump or stool; the stem to have been cut to the 
required height, a short distance above an eye sloping a little from it; and to have been planted hi 
rich well-prepared soil, where they soon emit abundance of fibres, and through the following summer 
produce abundance of young shoots, which are to be operated upon in budding. These young shoots, 
whatever may be them number or strength, should all be allowed to remain on the stock, and 
not thinned out or shortened in the least. I am fully aware that amateurs, and some extensive Rose 
growers , trim up them stocks during summer to the few branches which are intended to be budded 
upon ; and in many instances shorten even these. Many works which give directions on Rose growing 
recommend the same barbarous practice. To me it appears surprising how any person acquainted with 
the mere rudiments of Vegetable Physiology should recommend or do any act so much in opposition 
to the immutable laws of nature, as this practice indubitably is. Ask those who recommend or prac¬ 
tice this system, what their object is in doing it, and they will in all probability say, in order to 
strengthen the stock, and buds, which are inserted. Follow this question up, and inquire in what 
way does it strengthen the stock or buds P Is this to be effected by destroying the branches with 
their foliage—the latter the lungs and stomach of the plant! A strange way this would be considered 
in the animal kingdom, and it is precisely as absurd in the vegetable. 
If there is naturally a reciprocating action carried on between the roots and leaves, it follows if 
this action is cut off by destroying a considerable portion of the latter, the general health of the stock 
must be impaired. Now this is what is done by trimming and shortening the branches, the sap which 
is propelled into the stem and branches, (for want of the foliage which is cut off,) is neither digested 
nor assimilated, but remains in the cells of the stock in nearly the same crude state in which it was 
sent up ; the consequence is that the following spring when the buds attempt to grow, stock and all 
dies off. This will take place to a great extent if the Roses which have been budded are of some of 
the delicate Bourbons, Chinas, Teas, &c. When such as these attempt to shoot out in spring, being hi 
their nature delicate, and the stock unhealthy from the previous summer’s rough treatment, they will, 
after making shoots a few inches, die off in great numbers. I have seen whole lines of worked plants 
die off the first season after working, from this cause, and this only ; whilst the same varieties, under 
similar circumstances, save that the branches were neither trimmed nor shortened, have grown vigor¬ 
ously without a single failure. If the varieties budded are of a strong vigorous nature, they may grow 
r ° on pretty well, though not so well as if the branches had neither been trimmed nor shortened. 
One advantage, (or rather what some consider as such, though it is hi fact the contrary) arising 
from the practice here condemned, is that the buds will frequently grow out the same season; 
