THE ROSE GARDEN. 7 



not been able to meet with Roses flowering in autumn ; and some people have 

 pronounced them creations of the poet's fancy. Be this as it may, it might be 

 accounted for, I think, by presuming the adoption of a particular mode of culture. 

 The culture of Roses was a trade at Paestum ; and might not the cultivators have 

 forced the plants, to induce them to flower early in the spring ? After this, they 

 might rest them for a period ; and then, by pruning and watering, backed by the 

 influences of their climate, cause a new growth, and consecpiently a second deve- 

 lopment of flowers. I can quite conceive of the practicability of this, although 

 no one who cared for the ultimate weal of his plants might be disposed to practise 

 it. Or, again, is it not probable that some of the Roses raised from seed were of 

 this nature, though lost during the barbarous ages which succeeded the downfall 

 of Rome ? 



Cicero, Ovid, and Martial, speak of Roses ; and Pliny, who wrote on Gar- 

 dening towards the close of the first century, devotes some considerable space to 

 them. He mentions those of Carthage, and others of Miletus (supposed to be 

 R. Gallica). He tells us they used to obtain Roses before the natural season, by 

 watering the plants with warm water so soon as the buds were visible. Whether 

 such was the plan pursued by the Roman gardeners Ave are at perfect liberty to 

 doubt, although it is certain they had, under the reign of Domitian, abundance of 

 Roses in winter. Martial, the famous epigrammatic poet, ridicules the Egyptians 

 for sending them Roses when they had already plenty, and asks them to send 

 corn instead. Dr. Deslongchamps relates, on the authority of Seneca, that the 

 Roman gardeners had at this time found out the means of constructing hot-houses, 

 which they heated with tubes filled with hot water, and thus induced Roses and 

 Lilies to flower in December. (La Rose, &c, par Dr. Deslongchamps.) 



On the authority of Horace, it appears that Roses were grown in beds ; and 

 Columella mentions a place being reserved expressly for the production of late 

 Roses. 



With regard to the culture of this flower in those times, M. Boitard says, " The 

 cultivation of flowers, and particularly of Roses, was carried on upon a grand 

 scale, both at Paestum and in the environs of Rome. The sale of the flowers was 

 ordinarily in the hands of the prettiest girls of the place ; and the Latin Poets 

 have immortalized the names of several of these charming flower-girls, and have 

 even deified some of them. The divinity of Flora, the goddess of flowers, has no 

 other origin." (Manuel Comjtlet de V Amateur des Hoses, &c, par M. Boitard. 

 Paris, 1836.) 



If there is any one period in the world's history, when flowers engrossed too 

 much the attention of a nation, it was under the reigns of Augustus and sub- 

 secpient Emperors of Rome. The love of flowers was then carried to excess ; and 

 the Rose seemed to bear away the palm from all. It was customary for such of 

 the inhabitants as could afford it, to take their meals resting on Rose-leaves, — 

 a practice which Cicero loudly condemns. They were scattered upon the beds 

 and floors of the chambers of their guests. At their festivals they put the flowers 



