THE FLORIST. 



ROSES. 



A Hull correspondent, unknown to me but by correspondence, 

 encourages me to address another letter to the lovers of Roses, by 

 telling me that I have stirred up his neighbourhood, and caused him 

 to purchase 50 Roses, instead of six or twelve at the most. Though 

 he styles himself " A Poor Railway Clerk," he has had the spirit to 

 send to Mr. Cranston for 36. It is much so here. The nobility, 

 gentry, some of the clergy, and many of the farmers (the best Rose 

 cultivators in the county), are budding and buying. Even the poor 

 get briars and bud. The two largest Roses I saw last year — Baronne 

 Prevot and Mrs. Elliott — were grown in my parish by two cottagers. 

 These are steps — if not strides — in the right direction. The Rose 

 cause is a growing cause. We shall soon want Cremorne Gardens or 

 Hyde Park for the National Show. Mr. Hole has lighted a fire with 

 Rivers's faggots, and I am proud to act stoker, and to fan and feed it. 



1 hope the " boiler won't burst." My longing eyes have been looking 

 in vain for the last summer's revelation of the " oft-told tale," so well 

 told by Mr. Rivers and Mr. Paul in times past. In purchasing, I have 

 depended chiefly on " Experientia docet," which means that you pay 

 for your education, and partly on the " Marchands'" better judgment ; 

 and, whenever I have done so, I have not been deceived. Both old 

 and young amateurs would do well to adopt the latter dependence. I 

 have bought altogether, with 60 that I have given away as " tolers," 

 or " decoy ducks," about 350. This little zeal is derived from 

 the National, and is periphrastic praise of Mr. Hole, whose 24 Roses, 

 "the little boys in the street" say, were the best Amateur's lot in the 

 show. One thing is certain, that, according to the bud rule, they were 

 one of the few lots that were not positively discpiahfied, It was gene- 

 rally a show of most noble single flowers, the buds having been removed 

 in early life. I removed nothing ; but, no more will I be " Peter 

 Simple," no more " Peter Flat." I will, in spite of bud or Buddhist, 

 administer early the Jewish rite upon Protestant principles, reserving 

 to myself the right of private judgment. 



As regards novelties, I have entirely depended on the "Marchands" 

 (I use the term in distinction from the provincial nurserymen and 

 smaller country importers). The following have been sent : — 



2 Eveque de Nismes by Mr. Davis, of Newbury ; by Cranston, 

 Gloire de Lyons, 2 Lselias, Duchesse de Polignac, Mmlle. Godard, 

 M. Montigny, M. Jard, Maria Portemer, Lord Palmerston, Due 

 de Cambridge. There was a fine bud on Laelia ; she must be 

 good. The wood of Jard was the best. Of Roses new, but not 

 novelties, the chief are Vidot, Pririce Imperial, A. Fontaine, M. 

 Schmidt, M. Heraud, Dr. Lepestre (I doubt its being better than 

 D. Thouars), Lady Franklin, 2 of Cardinal Patrizzi, 2 of Rebecca, 



3 of Ravel, St. Remy (a bold, most fragrant, and good-habited Rose ; 

 she is the finest scented Perpetual next to M. Laffay), Triomphe de 

 1' Exposition, M. Regnier (both admirable Roses, and I think the two 

 best of the " seven that were to hold their ground for some time.") 

 These two, with Ravel, will not easily be superseded ; at least, they 



