In February, unless it be a mild season, the mounds are still bare; and then under the bushes the ground may be sometimes seen strewn with bulbous roots, apparently of the blue-bell, lying thickly together and entirely exposed.
The moucher now carries a bill-hook, and as he shambles along the road keeps a sharp look-out for briars.

When he sees one the roots of which are not difficult to get at, and whose tall upright stem is green--if dark it is too old--he hacks it off with as much of the root as possible.

The lesser branches are cut, and the stem generally trimmed; it is then sold to the gardeners as the stock on which to graft standard roses.

In a few hours as he travels he will get together quite a bundle of such briars.

He also collects moss, which is sold for the purpose of placing in flowerpots to hide the earth.