114 EXHIBITING. 



appointed, so that the hi^^'-hcst point of appreciation is 

 often missed, and if it is assured that a bloom is 

 sweetly scented, disappointment a^ain follows when 

 trees are purchased and the flowers do not come up to 

 expectations. Growers have yet to realise that per- 

 fume in a Rose, with the majority of the public, ranks 

 first, colour second, shape and size third. Why is it 

 that " La France " and " Marcchal \iel " have re- 

 mained such favourites, together with many others, 

 such as the old ** Gloire de Dijon " and ** Tom 

 Wood "? It is simply their fragrance, for, as we 

 well know, many of the later introductions of similar 

 habit are equally beautiful, and even more attractive in 

 colour. What keeps " Augustine Guinoisseau," 

 ** Golden Gate," or " Camoens " as popular Roses? 

 Not their shape or size, not their colour or habit. No ! 

 it is their wonderful perfume, which, when once noted, 

 is never forgotten, and, like many other varieties that 

 could be mentioned, they are starred in the lists of the 

 amateur before the majority possessing many other 

 qualities and recommendations. The wishes of the 

 Rose-loving pubMc are not altogether unknown to tlie 

 trader, but he finds it hard to secure novelties with that 

 ihigh degree of perfume found in many of the older 

 sorts. Novelties the public must have, and he takes 

 the easy road to procure them, choosing those varieties 

 that, being loose-petalled and not quite so full, seed 

 more freely and are more productive in new kinds. 

 Chance enters very largely into the productions of this 

 class of Rose, and the numerous varieties lately pro- 

 duced are evidence of this fact. Nevertheless, some of 

 our growers are most persevering, and follow up a 

 fixed line, and the result in the end is generally satis- 

 factory. We owe some of our best Roses to the un- 

 tiring efforts of a few scientific trade hybridisers who 

 have refused to acceot frequent failures at Nature's 

 refusal to obey their ^loughtful request. It is for the 

 general public to encourage such growers if they would 

 see an increase in the production of scented varieties. 

 Already a step has been made in this direction by 

 Messrs. Clay and Son, of fertiliser fame, of Stratford. 



