A NEGLECTED INDUSTRY.
How is it that the nurserymen are " caught short " of stocks ? The truth is that in England we habitually and grossly neglect the cultivation of stocks, not only of briar but of quince and Paradise and crab. The import trade in all these is considerable—and unnecessary. More than this, it is difficult to be sure of the nature and quality of imported stocks. When our roses relapse to briar we have a chance to see how miserable are the varieties on which the once lovely roses were budded ; and, of course, the form of the bush as well as the quality of flower suffer. I believe the subject is being scientifically studied at Wisley and else- where ; but in practice the briar stocks grow worse rather than better ; and many private gardeners suffer. Expert° crede.
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