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STOCKS - Part 1

1. It must give a high percentage of striking as cuttings or of germination from seed.

2. It must be easily budded.

3. It must have affinity for a wide range of varieties.

4. It must be capable of producing and supporting vigorous long-living plants as scions.

5. It must be highly disease-resistant and not likely to in­duce disease in the scion.

6. Its budding incision and accidental wounds must be quick to heal.

7. It must not readily sucker from the stems or roots.

8. It must be available in adequate quantity.

9. It must not need special or extra care and handling for striking.

10. It must transplant readily.

11. It must be readily adaptable to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions.

The ninth and eleventh of these qualifications concern the nurseryman more than the amateur who may not mind a little extra trouble with the few stocks he needs each year, and who will not worry if a stock that suits his conditions does not do well in another area.

A great number of varieties of stocks have been tried with varying results. Strangely, in Australia, different dwarf stocks have come to be used almost exclusively in various States. Queensland and New South Wales use R. multiflora; Vic­toria, Tasmania, and South Australia use R. indica major; Western Australia uses R fortunicma. Nearly all standard, or tree roses, are grown on R. canina, but in recent years a form of R. multiflora has come into use by several nurserymen, and at least one firm is using a stock known as IXL.

Cuttings for growth of stocks are slightly different from those chosen for propagating garden roses. No heel of older wood should be used. They should be as straight as possible, and all eyes except the upper one or two should be removed. This makes for greater quantity of available cuttings and less suckering, for each heel shelters many dormant buds that would later become a great source of trouble. Stocks should be planted in autumn.