Discussion — Roses. 67 



did not know their names, or much about their cultivation; but he 

 "was fond of them. He was especially interested in the apple blos- 

 som, more perhaps for its prospective returns than for its present 

 beauty. At the time of the late frost, he started out early in the 

 morning to admire them, and see how they were; he was very anx- 

 ious until he found that they were unharmed, and hurried back to 

 the house to inform his wife of their safety, without even thinking 

 to look at the garden flowers for which she had the greatest solici- 

 tude. 



Senator Arnold thought that his knowledge and appreciation of 

 flowers was much like that of friend Phillips, yet he was very fond 

 -"bf them; he liked to see them in and around the house, but be 

 thought there were no flowers, roses or plants like the old ones we 

 used to have; none bloomed so freely, or were so handsome or 

 so hardy. Much of their value comes from old associations, doubt- 

 less, but they were certainly more vigorous, and would do better 

 with little or no attention than the new varieties, now cultivated, 

 do with the best of care. There is a great variety of taste in the 

 kinds of flowers and form of their cultivation; some fill their yards 

 with clam shells, cobble stones, heaps of brick and stones, or piles 

 of rubbish, and then have flowers planted among or running over 

 these, but he liked to see flowers, both annuals and roses, standing 

 in the grass; not growing in the grass, but in beds cut in the lawn, 

 beds of different shapes and placed around in pleasing diversity, 

 rather than in straight, stiff lines. 



Mrs. Ryan thought it had a more pleasing effect and was better 

 taste to have beds of flowers, both annuals and roses, set out in the 

 lawn; the green grass was a pleasant contrast, and set out the 

 varied colors to better advantage. She was an admirer of roses, 

 and had given much attention to their cultivation. The soil she 

 thought best adapted to them is loam or leaf mold, enriched with 

 manure from the barn yard. But with the best cultivation she had 

 not succeeded in securing as good flowers as formerly. The old 

 varieties do not bloom as freely, the roses are not as perfect and 

 handsome as they used to be, and the bushes die out every few 

 years and have to be replanted. The " Cinnamon" rose is the only 

 one of the old kinds she has left. The perpetual roses, with her, 

 bloom three times each season; once freely, like the annual kinds, 

 the other times sparingly. 



