90 



PAET II. 

 THE. AUTUMNAL ROSE GARDEN. 



To Autumnal Eoses we are much indebted for 

 that prolonged season of interest which this 

 ' Queen of flowers ' now gives. The roses of 

 June, however splendid, soon fade ; but some 

 Perpetual, or Noisette, or Bourbon roses enrich 

 oiu: gardens with their perfume and gay colours, 

 till the chills of approaching winter prevent the 

 expansion of their flowers. To have roses in 

 autumn has from the earliest ages been esteemed 

 a luxury ; the Egyptians cultivated a variety sup- 

 posed to be our monthly rose ; and by retarding 

 the flowering season, it is presumed, by late 

 pruning, they were able to export immense 

 quantities of roses to Eome during the early 

 winter months, i.e. in November and December. 

 Whether the trees were sent full of bloom-buds, 

 in pots or cases, or simply the flowers preserved 

 in some way, is uncertain. It appears, however, 

 that the Eomans soon became adepts in the art 

 of cultivating autumnal roses ; for when the Egyp- 

 tians sent a magnificent present of roses to 

 Domitian, on his birthday, which was towards 



