2 6 THE FLORIST. 



detail. Nor can the visitor depart without an abiding impression 

 of the talent displayed by the Director in the arrangements and 

 order pervading the whole. It is evident in every department that, 

 if the means be supplied, Sir William Hooker will provide most effec- 

 tually for every deficiency. Now let us home, for the bell rings 

 announcing six o'clock. At the bridge we shall find a steamer, and 

 so vary our return to the metropolis after as pleasantly spent an 

 afternoon as any rational being could expect in company with 

 August 1849. An Erratic Man. 



MESSRS. LANE'S ROSE NURSERY, 

 GREAT BERKHAMPSTEAD. 



" What vivid colours flush yon blooming Rose, 

 Whose fragrance floats upon the balmy gale!" 



A warm sunny morning early in July found us at Euston Station 

 awaiting the time when the train should start, to take a trip on the 

 Birmingham Railway to view Messrs. Lane's Roses. The time in 

 the carriage passed speedily and merrily enough ; for, between the 

 sharp witticisms of a happy jocular companion, occasional glimpses 

 at fine bold scenery as we " sped along," and thoughts of the rich 

 treat which awaited us, we w r ere in the best possible humour with 

 every thing and every body around us. A ride of about an hour and 

 a quarter brought us to our journey's end, and we alighted from the 

 train in sight of the Rose-gardens we were in search of, and to- 

 wards which we bent our eager steps, with the lines of our great 

 poet upon our lips : 



" And of pure now purer air 

 Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 

 Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 

 All sadness but despair. Now gentle gales, 

 Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense 

 Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 

 Those balmy spoils." 



Mr. Lane's house is situated at the north-west end of the town, 

 in the centre of the home nursery, which lies on one side of a valley, 

 extending from its bottom to the top of the hill. Above the house 

 are beds of Roses on grass ; and higher up, Standard Roses in fair 

 and beautiful profusion. Among them was Geant des Batailles in 

 perfection, itself a glorious sight : if no other Rose had been in 

 flower, this would have amply repaid our visit, for it is certainly one 

 of the very best and most glowing Perpetuals which we possess. All 

 the finer old Roses, as Baron Prevost, Du Petit Thouars, Robin Hood, 

 Duchess of Sutherland, &c. were assembled here, and also many 

 new ones, among which we remarked Cymedor, which has been 

 well described in a previous paper by Mr. Rivers. Pillar Roses of 

 the Ayrshire and Sempervirens kinds skirted a portion of this extensive 

 plantation, then came ranges of pits and the public road, which passes 

 through the centre of the nursery, immediately in front of Mr. Lane's 

 house, more glasshouses, another field of Roses ; and now we are near 



