12 THE FLORIST. 



idea that the cultivation of our national emblem is on the wane ; for 

 independent of other strong evidence, we must, when we see our be- 

 loved Sovereign preferring bouquets " entirely of Eoses," and the 

 GanUners' Chronicle (see p. 77 G), recommending a list of some of 

 our finest varieties lor cultivation in " Cottagers' gardens," come to 

 the conclusion that it is rather gaining than losing admirers. No 

 apology can, therefore, be needed for our introducing — we might say 

 urging — this subject on the notice of your readers, or for echoing 

 what has already been written so nuich more ably Avith regard to 

 the promotion of the same object. 



This apathy, as respects raising seedlings, may have arisen from 

 the barren results that have hitherto followed the mere gathering 

 and sowing the heps which warm summers generally ripen ; and it 

 is by illustrating the hopelessness of such a practice, and the great 

 probability of success when the necessary assiduity and care are be- 

 stowed on hybridising, that I venture to second the clear practical 

 directions given by Mr. Rivers in his Rose Amateur's Guide, and the 

 elaborate instructions on the same subject given by Mr. W. Paul 

 in his beautiful work, the Rose- Garden, 



To those of your Kose-loving readers who have not proved how 

 futile is the time bestowed on mere chance Rose-seed sowing, the 

 following extract from the Beauties of the Rose may not prove an 

 inapt illustration : 



" English cultivators are under a great disadvantage compared 

 with their brethren in France, as it is only in very fine seasons that 

 our best Roses bear seed, and even then, owing to its being iinperlectly 

 ripened, but a small portion grows ; our chance of raising fine Roses 

 from seed is therefore very slender, as I can illustrate by facts ; in 

 1846 I had a bushel of Rose-heps gathered from all our fine hybrid 

 perpetual and Bourbon Roses. Some of the seed grew in 1847, the 

 remainder in 1848, and all the plants, amounting to some hundreds, 

 blossomed in 1849 ; but of these, one only is really a fine Rose." 



To provide against the disadvantage spoken of above, and to 

 insure by fertilisation the vegetative powers of the seed, must be 

 the aim of the amateur, whose devotion, it is trusted, will be more 

 readily secured to this pursuit by the following account of the pa- 

 rentage, &G. of that universal favourite Devoniensis. 



" This fine variety (Devoniensis) was raised by George Foster, 

 Esq., of Oatland, near Devonport (a genuine lover of horticulture 

 and a true fiorist), who believes that it was produced from the yel- 

 low China, fertilised by the yellow Noisette, as he was in the con- 

 stant habit of impregnating the former with the latter. It flowered 

 the first year from the seed-bed, but was small and weak ; on being 

 budded, laowever, on a strong stock, it proved a very fine variety." 



Thus it is shown that without diligence no profitable results can 

 be expected; but that, on the other hand, gratifying rewards may 

 l)e anticipated from skilful cross-breeding; and we trust this mil 

 prove a sufficient incentive to induce amateurs to take up a pursuit 

 which may be expected one day to give us an opportunity of pur- 



