INTRODUCTION. 7 
grant blossoms, beautiful violet-red color, 
long stems, and luxuriant foliage. But it is 
essentially a rose for growing under glass, 
and cannot take the place of numerous old- 
time favorites as an out-of-door flower. Of 
comparatively recent introduction, Papa Gon- 
tier, in like manner, is greatly prized by 
florists for winter forcing, though to the ama- 
teur it scarcely takes the place of its deli- 
ciously-scented rosy rival, Bon Siléne. 
The improvements in the Rose may be best 
understood on comparing the monographs 
and catalogues of the present day with the 
lists of a half-century ago, and more espe- 
cially with the lists as given by the old garden- 
masters like Gerarde, by whom it is extolled 
as “ deserving the chiefest and most principall 
place among all floures whatsoever.” How 
would Herrick and Waller have hymned its 
praises could they have beheld and savored 
the roses of to-day! For what improvements 
have not been made in the Queen of Flowers 
since the Elizabethan poets sang, “ Go, lovely 
rose,” and “Gather ye rosebuds while ye 
may !” 
So many varieties now exist, however, that 
growers should exercise redoubled care in 
sending out anything asa novelty which does 
not possess intrinsic merits of its own, It 
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