PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 59 
suckers spring up in abundance from the roots; these would soon rob 
the head or worked part of a great portion of its nourishment; but 
these suckers are useful when taken off with a good portion of root to 
them, because there is not a more certain mode of propagating the 
Rose than neatly grafting a piece of the wood of a Rose on the root 
iust under the surface; the union is almost certain, if at all dexterously 
done. The proper mode of doing this, is to pull up the sucker, which 
will expose the root some distance, and take off a good piece of root 
with it from the parent stock; cut the sucker completely off to the 
part that was on the surface of the ground; get a piece of the wood 
of a Rose as nearly the size of the root as possible, cut a slit in the 
root, making both cuts smooth and flat inside; then cut the scion 
wedge fashion, and make the bark fit it even with the outer cuticle of 
the root; tie them well together, and plant them so that the entire 
graft goes under the surface of the ground. These root grafts are 
excellent for dwarf plants, for they are worked actually under ground, 
and when well done they make excellent plants. Grafting the Rose is 
hot chosen before budding; but, as there is always a good deal of 
waste wood in a rose tree that has to come off in spring, many give 
grafting a chance; and of grafting, root grafting is one of the most 
effective. There is never any scarcity of roots among a collection of 
roses; forking the ground a little brings up these straggling shoots; 
and so that there be a good piece of healthy stuff, there is no difficulty 
in making a good job. There is no occasion to clay over the join in 
root grafting. 
There is another advantage in root grafting: it is applicable with 
the C lina kinds all the season through, if you make sure of a healthy 
root; nor is there any difficulty in obtaining proper roots for the pur- 
