i88s.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



277 



during the sovereignty of Augustus and subse- 

 quent rulers ; but Cicero did not approve of the 

 custom of those who were given to hixurious en- 

 tertainments of taking their meals reclining on rose 

 leaves. Verres, a Roman Governor of Sicily, 

 gave audiences with wreaths of roses around his 

 neck and upon his head, sitting upon a cushion 

 made of the finest Malta linen, full of sweet- 

 scented rosebuds. Cleopatra and Nero extrava- 

 gantly decorated their banqueting halls with rosy 

 ornaments and garlands, and distinguished guests 

 were greeted amid roseate bowers, while the 

 merry dance went round in an atmosphere redo- 

 lent with roseal odors. Every evidence exists that 

 we must connect the rose with the love of antiquity, 

 for the ancients preserved its luxury, and it was the 

 ornament of their festivals, their altars and their 

 tombs, while their poets made the rose the symbol 

 of innocence and modesty, of grace and beauty. 

 It is even probable that the Romans had roses of 

 similar species with some of those we now culti- 

 vate, since they practiced sowing the seed, as well 

 as propagated by cuttings, by budding and 

 grafting. Hothouse growth was also understood 

 and practiced, says Seneca, and it was a boast to 

 have carried to perfection this flower, so far as to 

 surpass the cultivators of Alexandria, Memphis 

 and Rhodes. That the rose never tires is shown 

 by its reputation through all ages. A hundred 

 generations have passed attended by revolution of 

 empires and desolating invasions, but time has 

 not detracted from the loveliness of beauty's 

 queen, nor has renewed associates made the rose 

 less alluring. 



Memory bears us up the stream of time, when 

 we are to believe that the roses in the famous 

 gardens of the East were as pure and constant as 

 now, relics of Eden's bowers, "sweet nurslings of 

 the vernal skies, bathed in soft airs." The same 

 resistless beauty was doubtless manifest, flaunting 

 in the shades of early morn ; the same sunshine 

 loved theili then, because they were so fair; the 

 same closing and fading of the petals was descried 

 under the dropping of the gloaming dews. In 

 their original clime, where the powers of admira- 

 tion were never exhausted, the Syrian and Musk 

 rose, replete with dewy wine, covered the sacred 

 ground. No frost candied the grass, emblems of 

 life continually existed, and roses glowed in gem- 

 like tinges, hanging in cataracts from the gray 

 walls of the fortified villages, topped by a crown of 

 foliage. Amid such scenes the traveller exclaimed, 

 in admiration, " Who can paint like nature ?" as 

 one beholds this shadowy curtain of gorgeous 



colors on mouldering stone-work, when the sun 

 goes down behind the amethyst-tinted hills. 



In summer time, in our favored locality, the ad- 

 mirer of the rose can find refreshment, rest and 

 peace in this parterre, as he surveys with delight 

 his favorite collection, whose brightness and sweet- 

 ness bring tender memories, solaces and hopes ; 

 while the reflections awakened by floricultural 

 nomenclature afford new sources for enjoyment. 

 This companionship of distinguished acquaintances 

 attired in rich apparel — the Counts and Duchesses, 

 Princes and Barons, Queens and Empresses, 

 Lords and Marquises, Ladys and Sirs, Madames 

 and Mademoiselles, are a royal family grand and 

 graceful when expanded to fullest beauty of 

 flowers, purple, red and white, amidst rosebuds, 

 blushing through their bowers of green, more 

 lovely because more concealed. Providence, R. I. 



EFFECT OF DROUTH ON PLANTS. 

 BY ERNEST WALKER. 



Several weeks have passed since rain has fallen 

 here; and all the time the July sun has been 

 pouring down his rays most fiercely and unmerci- 

 fully. At noon the mercury usually stands at 

 something near 100'^— and one day at io40_in the 

 shade. 



The wilted foliage of trees and plants shows 

 vegetation to be suffering ; and seemingly, as if 

 apprehensive that their end was near, flowering 

 plants have been blooming with unwonted pro- 

 fusion and splendor, seeming to indicate that in 

 case they were exterminated their object was to 

 provide for a succeeding generation. Verbenas 

 and Geraniums have assumed their richest hues 

 and have been blooming in prodigal abundance. 



Even the tardy Chrysanthemum, with similar 

 apprehension, is flowering and covered with buds. 

 The flowers are perfect, but the delicate petals, un- 

 able to bear the sun, are scorched and withered 

 at the tips. The usually white ones have a lemon- 

 ish tint. The flowers are evidently produced at 

 the expense of growth and foliage. The jagged 

 leaves of the blooming Chrysanthemum are 

 changed to entire tri-lobate, and much smaller 

 than usual, some being merely bracts ; which with 

 the numerous small and slender stems, bearing 

 the flowers, greatly changes the characteristic ap- 

 pearance of the plant. 



New Albany, [nd., July 2 2d, 1883. 



[The very interesting topic touched on by our 



correspondent, has been worked up by modern 



scientific investigators, and the cause of coloring. 



