vi PREFACE 



persist in the pursuit of a recreation that has no rival 

 in its power to charm, and while offering illimitable 

 pleasure for the moment, lures its followers with 

 hopes of an even brighter future. 



I have been privileged to obtain the assistance of 

 Mr. Walter Easlea, a successful grower and exhibitor of 

 roses, whose experience of the ways of this popular 

 flower is second to none. His contributions add largely 

 to the value of the book. 



Mr. H. H. Aitken, M.A., has written the chapter on 

 Rose Diseases and Insect Pests ; to him also my acknow- 

 ledgments are due. 



With few exceptions, the half-tone illustrations are 

 from my own photographs. Many of them are of roses 

 grown in a small garden, within a dozen miles of Bow 

 Bells, and given quite ordinary cultivation. They depict 

 such blooms as every reader may hope to grow (indeed, 

 he may easily excel them), and do not profess to show 

 rose blooms as they are displayed in the exhibition tent. 



H. H. T. 



The publication of a new and revised (fourth) edition 

 of The Rose Book has provided an opportunity of bring- 

 ing to notice some of the best of the new roses, and par- 

 ticulars of these will be found in the Appendix. A choice 

 of excellent roses for garden display can still be made 

 from many of the older varieties such as are described 

 in the chapters dealing with the various classes. 



H. H. T. 



