This is by— BUDDING In order to find what is meant by budding, you must understand that the “bud” referred to means the little green “eye” on the stem of the plant where a branch will grow. This “eye” is cut off with a sharp knife, and slipped under the bark of some wild rose plant, called the “stock.” The advantage of budding is that the growth is rapid and commences with the strong roots of the wild plant. If you buy rose plants from the dealer, they will probably be budded plants. Now, watch for— “SUCKERS” You see, in budding, after the “bud” or “eye” has begun to put forth leaves, all the branches of the wild rose plant are cut away, and only the new bud allowed to grow. Sometimes the _wild rose stock_ or root will send out a shoot after the new rose bush is planted. If this is allowed to grow, it will use all the food sent up by the roots, and the new budded growth will die out, unless the _wild rose shoot is cut off close_. “Suckers” are very easily discerned. They are full of prickles, are light green in color, and usually have seven leaves. Cultivated rose bushes with few exceptions have five leaves. You do not want to find any of your lovely rose bushes killed in this way—so watch out for “suckers!” Billy looked up from his note book, “I haven’t read exactly as I have taken these notes,” he said; “I’ve made the lesson shorter. Do you wish me to go on?” “Oh, please do!” cried the girls. “Yes, Son,” said his mother, “that is, if you are not too tired. I imagine we are coming to that interesting point where we will learn what roses were recommended to you for planting.” FOOTNOTE: [I] Mary Frances has several rose bushes blooming, which she made from cuttings. She saved some especially beautiful cut roses which were given her. When the flowers had wilted she cut them off and followed the directions Billy had given. CHAPTER XXXVI THE BEST ROSES TO PLANT “YOU are quite right, Mother,” replied Billy, “but before we were given the lists, we learned a little more about the history and— CLASSES OF ROSES If we should go back many years, and give the names of the old roses and follow their history until the present time, you could scarcely remember their names. Already you have heard of “Damask,” “China,” and “Cabbage” roses, and have been told that they were among the grandparents of the roses of to-day. THE HOMES OF CERTAIN ROSES