PREBACE. 10 THE PIRST EDITION 
Ir seems right to make some sort of apology, as 
most of my predecessors have done, for putting forth 
another Rose-book when there are already so many ; 
but perhaps it is not really required, as the columns 
devoted to the subject every week in horticultural 
literature show that there is ever something fresh 
to be said on the different matters connected with 
the Rose. 
My idea was, in the first place, to give, from an 
amateur, full details of practical culture for amateurs 
from the beginning to the end; and I ought to be 
able to do this satisfactorily even if I have not 
succeeded, as, under unfavourable conditions of soil 
and situation, I have done with my own hands every 
portion of the work, from raising and establishing 
the stocks to carrying off a champion challenge cup 
at the Crystal Palace. Secondly, to give such de- 
scriptions of the best known Roses as should tell 
of their faults and bad habits as well as of their 
good qualities and perfections, since I have good 
reason to believe a record of this sort will be wel- 
XIIT 
