THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 299 



whereas a few hours' trial of a full-blown flower — even of Alfred 

 Colombo, and modern roses of equal repute — inevitably reveals the 

 eye. This is so patent a defect, that no effort ought to be spared to 

 get rid of it. "We had better abandon new roses altogether, what- 

 ever other merits they possess, than allow this vicious feature to 

 become iueradicably fixed, going back to some of the best of older 

 kinds as seed-bearers for our future uovelties. Coarseness, and its 

 concomitant raggedness, is also another frequent defect found in 

 new roses — that is, on the stands. It is by no means certain, in all 

 cases, whether-this fault actually belongs to the rose itself, or is not 

 rather developed by the grower, in his attempts to secure abnormal 

 size. Many of these huge roses at the exhibitions are by no means 

 similar monstrosities upon the bushes in the rosery. Indeed, the 

 case is, in some respects, analogous to prize beasts and fatted pigs 

 at a Cattle Show. 



Another curious idea which is apt to arise in the mind of an old 

 rosarian is, whether we are not getting certain bygone varieties, 

 forgotten by most, over again under new names — a little improved, 

 it may be, by superior cultivation. It is certain that, with adroit 

 management, it would not be a very difficult piece of deception to 

 palm oft* roses of kinds now forgotten. How many of our modern 

 judges could detect a bloom of L' Enfant du Mont Carmel, or 

 .Noemie, or Toujours Pleurie, if placed upon the show-table amongst 

 others r 1 This reflection suggests an interesting experiment for any 

 rosarian suitably placed for carrying it out. Early in November, 

 let a breadth of proper soil, where the climate is favourable for 

 superior development of roses, be prepared, and half-a-dozen strong 

 plants of the Manetti be procured and carefully planted, of each of 

 the following old kinds, for instance : — Heine des Floeurs, Baronne 

 Hallez, Baron Heckeren, Cornet, General Brea, General Pelissier, 

 Gloire de Parthenay, Jacques Lafitte, L'Enfant du Mont Carmel, 

 Leon des Combats, Madame Masson, Marquis d'Ailsa, Prince Im- 

 perial, Toujours Fleurie, and Triomphe de Paris. All of these, well 

 grown, possess the element of size, as well as symmetry. Let the 

 ground be well mulched, and let them receive the best possible 

 culture, liquid manure and disbudding ; and let the blooms thereof 

 be exhibited at the Shows the next season under the denomination 

 of " seedlings " — of course, no pecuniary imposition being attempted. 

 We imagine two certain results would follow. Pew would detect 

 their real character, and their undoubted beauty and superior points 

 would excite universal admiration. Some such comparison is re- 

 quired from time to time, before any varieties should be suffered to 

 lapse into oblivion, and before mere novelties should be allowed to 

 finally supersede first-rate kinds already in cultivation ; and for this 

 reason : there is considerable accident in the repute of roses, owing 

 to the compulsion competitors are under to cut what they have, and 

 not what they would choose, on fixed dates. Did circumstances 

 permit, we would carry out this experiment ourselves. Meantime, 

 we look with considerable interest for some enterprising amateur to 

 work out the idea as a valuable phase iu lessons upon the rose. 



There is also wide scope for ascertaining accurately the relative 



