Roses, and llo^v to Grow Them. 333 



* * *. A perfect rose, for general cultivation, should excel 

 in the following particulars, and in the order named: 



First — Beauty of color — As that which first attracts us to a 

 rose. 



Second — Beauty of form — Without which our eye cannot rest 

 long, but wanders on, seeking a combination of the two in one 

 flower. 



Third — Fragrance — Deprived of this no rose can be perfect. 

 Whoever yet saw a beautiful rose without wishing to inhale its 

 odors? Gratification in this matter is ofttimes far more pleasing to 

 us than the mere sight of beauty. 



Fourth — Profusion and continuity of bloom. We like our 

 good things in abundance, poured out to us with generosity, that 

 we may have to distribute and carry our pleasure to friends. 



Fifth — ■Vigor and healthfulness of growth. That will produce 

 strength of plant thriving with a moderate degree of care and 

 attention, and that will endure the extremes of summer's heat and 

 winter's cold. 



Let us consider at some greater length these several qualities 

 essential to a perfect rose. 



First — As regards color we like something decided and pro- 

 nounced, or else of great delicacy and softness, and, withal, as dur- 

 able as possible. The varieties differ very greatly in this respect. 

 For example, Pius the IX, a well-known old rose of splendid 

 habit, very seldom is seen of a clear color ; the sun fades it almost 

 immediately after the flowers expand, and a dirty shade of rose is 

 produced, anything but pleasing. La Peine, Giant of Battles, and 

 others are likewise affected, though in less degree. Some, like 

 Abel Grand and General Jacqueiainot, are quite permanent, lasting 

 ofttimes till the petals wilt and fall. Above all things, therefore, 

 we want our colors pure and steadfast. 



Form. — In form, the rose shows almost as much diversitv as in 

 color. We have globular, cup-shaped, imbricated, and quartered 

 roses, besides may modifications of these forms. The globular 

 rose, as shown in Alfred Colomh, is the finest of them all, but the 

 others are very pleasing in their variety, and we should not wish 

 to be confined to the one type. The quartered or flat form is the 



