STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 369 



in the far south where the hybrid Per])etuals are nearly 

 worthless. Moss roses thrive here, and with few or no excep- 

 tions are not inferior in the quality of their flower to the class 

 referred to above; most of them bloom but once in the season, 

 the same as June roses. The Salet moss, though not a superior 

 rose, is one of great value, covering all its defects by its most 

 constant habit of blooming throughout the whole summer. 



The Bengals and Bourbons are neither of them up in quality 

 to the standard of our views; though their color may be satisfac- 

 tory and steadfast; their petals are too fluffy and their lives too 

 fleeting when separated from the parent stem. These remarks 

 apply more particularly to the Bengals, though the Bourbons 

 fail as surely to win our admiration. These are commonly 

 known as the monthly roses; they have their uses, as from 

 natural and artificial crosses between these the Damask and 

 Province, our grandest roses, have come. Who can say that this 

 did not begin at the time of the crusades to the Holy land, as 

 what souvenir should be more cherished by those chivalrous pil- 

 grims on their return than a rose from Damascus? 



The original stock of tea roses came from China. Their 

 peculiar tea scent gives their origin away. 



This occasion does not admit of the mention of but few sorts 

 in any of the classes named. Other classes and sub-classes have 

 been left out altogether, the chief object being to call attention 

 to the comparative merits of some individual members of the 

 classes most useful to us. Happily, some of the best can be grown 

 to great perfection here in the open air. 



Among all created things nothing perhaps so touches the gen- 

 tler chords of our natures and more surely gains our affections 

 than the rose. Their delicious perfume, beauty of form and 

 delicate coloring are suggestive to us of chastity and goodness. 



HOETICULTUEAL SERMOX ON FLOWERS. 



Bi/ Mrs. Anna B. Underwood , Lake City. 



The inquiries of a young friend have suggested the subject, or 

 rather, text for a horticultural sermon. "Please tell me, Mrs. TJ., 

 how you manage to have such a pretty show of flowers every 

 summer and all through the fall up to heavy frosts. There is 

 never a lack of them, no matter how dried and parched the 

 ground. Mine I will fuss over and water and water ; but no 

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