BEST VARIETIES WITH CHARACTERISTICS 



five hundred feet above sea level. In Southern Phila- 

 delphia, where the altitude is less, the bloom com- 

 mences at least ten days earlier. Of course, in all 

 localities the time of blooming is affected by the sea- 

 son. A month which gives cool weather and much 

 rain increases the blooming of a rose, and a month 

 of great heat and drought will naturally reduce the 

 number of flowers; but as the records are taken from 

 a number of years in the majority of cases, an average 

 should be reached which is exact enough for aU re- 

 quirements. In a short test a rose may do well in 

 one bed and badly in another. This has been insured 

 against as far as possible by planting a number of 

 roses of each variety, and having a test of never less 

 than two years. 



"Form" has been marked for the length and beauty 

 of the bud and also for the substance of the open 

 flower; petallageand size have both been considered; 

 short buds and blooms which open singly or flat are 

 marked "B, " etc. 



"Lasting" refers entirely to the keeping qualities 

 both before and after cutting. 



"Color" is marked for the clearness and beauty of 



the color; "B" or "C" are used if the rose is either 



somewhat muddy or verges on a solferino shade, 



which is not considered of the first beauty in roses. 



The color descriptions of the blooms in the Main List 



75 



