26 HOW TO GATHER SPECIMENS OF ROSES. 



Such specimens show how the branches are inserted on the stems. 

 To complete the gathering, isolated branches should be always taken. 

 When it is possible, barren shoots, divided into pieces of two or three 

 internodes, should be collected along with the flower-bearing shoots. 



For a Rose to be really well gathered, it should be represented in 

 the specimen by — 



1st. Flowering-branches with flowers and buds. 



2nd. Flowering-branches with well-developed green fruit. 



3rd. Flow^ering-branches with ripe fruit. 



4th. Portions of the radical shoots and barren stems. 



It is not necessary to say that these complete specimens can only be 

 made when one has the bush at hand during the whole season. Upon 

 an excursion, away from home, one has often to be contented with one 

 or two states. 



The tickets of the specimens should give details respecting those 

 characters which disappear in drying, or which cannot be shown by the 

 specimens, and should also furnish information on the following points, 

 viz. : — 



1. Whether the rootstock be spreading or erect. 



2. Whether the plant be gregarious or solitary. 



3. The form and aspect of the bush and its height. 



4. The colour of the stem and upper surface of the leaves. 



5. The colour of the petals and odour of the flowers and glands. 



6. The kind of station (shady or exposed, etc.), kind of soil and alti- 

 tude. 



The greater part of these details are not however necessary, when an 

 ordinary form belonging to a well-known group is in question. 



One thing which must be always kept in view, is never to mix spe- 

 cimens of allied forms coming from two or several different bushes. 

 This separation of specimens from diflerent gatherings enables one to 

 have a command over one's observations in a way that is not possible 

 if this plan be not adopted. I strongly recommend this plan to ama- 

 teurs who send me Roses for examination. 



My plan has been to mark the bushes in the fields and woods with 

 tickets of lead bearing a number ; to have two tickets bearing the same 

 number, and fasten one on the bush and the other round the specimens 

 taken away from it. Tf this be done, there is no confusion to be feared 

 in the g-atherings made at different dates. 



