23 JULY 1948, Page 14

In the Garden Insistent pleas for roses grown on their

own roots (as being longer lived and free from suckers) continue to be totally disregarded by nursery- men. This is natural enough in regard to the best bedding roses (say, the McGreedy Yellow) for it is really (in my experience) difficult and chancy to persuade the cuttings to take, at any rate out of doors, and the subsequent growth is perhaps slower. But the same does not hold good of the polyanthus or of most climbers. For example, I am con- tinually cutting out bush suckers from .bought Poulsens, and have no trouble at all with a bed grown from cuttings. These are rather more dwarf (which is an advantage) and flower at least as profusely. Quite ninety per cent. of out-door cuttings took and flourished.

W. BEACH Timms.