92 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct. 



England, and other men in France, began some pioneer work in 

 cross-fertilization of roses, a new era began in the world of 

 floriculture, and the role which the rose has played in the 

 efficient development and understanding of the art of plant 

 improvement is only realized when we compare a modern plant 

 catalogue, and especially a rose catalogue, with one printed less 

 than fifty years ago, and then, few, we suppose, really grasp the 

 meaning of the difference in such lists. 



But let these few last words be for the consideration of the 

 real role of the rose. One has said "What muse has been able 

 or language sufficient, to do justice to a plant that has been 

 denominated the Daughter of Heaven, the Glory of the Spring, 

 and the Ornament of the Earth. ... To paint this universal 

 emblem of delicate splendor in its own hues, the pencil should 

 be dipped in the tints of Aurora when arising amidst her aerial 

 glory. Human art can neither colour nor describe so fair a 

 flower. Venus herself finds a rival in the rose, whose beautv is 

 composed of all that is exquisite and graceful." And it may be 

 justly concluded that to possess such a flower and to grow it for 

 its fragrance and beauty has been a potent desire which has led 

 to the creation of man}/ of those beautiful gardens not only 

 around the "Stately Homes of England," but in ever increasing 

 number on this continent also, and standing in one of these 

 gardens and beholding the roses, or sitting in the doorway of 

 one of the humblest cottages of the land, and scenting the 

 fragrance of roses climbing around tin) T windows, can any being 

 revel in gross selfishness or remain unconscious to the fact that 

 such flowers would win him to magnanimous conduct and invite 

 him to be their messengers to carry fragrance and cheer to the 

 sick and afflicted of mankind? And is there a man who can sell 

 himself to pure utilitarianism when around him are examples 

 of a type of beauty which has won multitudes of mankind to 

 taste through the joys of the aesthetic life the real fulness of 

 living? And surely none can be mere animal only in passions 

 when forms so perfect in symmetry and shape appeal to him to 

 witness their perfect modesty and grace? 



The rose, Queen of Flowers, has a true role in this world, 

 and that role no mortal may dare make light of. To take chief 

 part in shaping the aesthetic taste in man, to encourage the love 

 of the garden, the love of fragrance, of beauty of form, of exquisite 

 color is a task of no mean order, and yet the modern rose is 

 encouraging, more than ever before, a more clamorous appetite, 

 a truer aesthetic thirst for these things, a true indication, surely, 

 that her supremacy is secure and her role a beneficient one. 



