14 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



at Bellevue, a few miles from Paris, is a most enviable one : he lives surrounded 

 with Roses and Chestnut-trees ; and his garden, although not extensive, commands 

 a wide and most agreeable prospect. The soil is a stiff — I had almost said rank — 

 clay, and does not appear to have much labour bestowed on its amelioration. 



Both M. Vibert and M. Laffay — the former especially — have been engaged in 

 the cultivation of Roses for many years ; and their enterprise and industry have 

 brought them a full reward. They now cultivate more for amusement than for 

 profit, confining themselves chiefly to the raising of seedlings, and the propagating 

 of them for distribution, Having realized a comfortable independency, and 

 attained to the highest eminence in their profession, they seem content to recline 

 beneath the laurels they have so peacefully won. In the Preface to his Catalogue, 

 published towards the close of 1846, M. Vibert writes to this effect : — " My 

 establishment, which I founded in 1815, and where Roses only are cultivated for 

 sale, is the first of the kind which had existence in France. Thirty-five years' 

 practice in this branch of Horticulture, with numerous and reiterated experiments 

 made on every mode of cultivation ; a long habit of seeing, studying, and of com- 

 paring the productions of this beautiful genus; — such are, at the least, the claims 

 I have to public confidence. But I know all the obligations under which 

 I remain, from the long and sustained kindness with which amateurs and the 

 members of the profession have honoured me; and it is in reply to the honourable 

 proofs of concern which have been so often addressed to me, that I am resolved 

 not entirely to renounce my profession. To cover the expense of my garden, and 

 to use my time sparingly, is the end which I propose to myself. Without seeking 

 to extend my connections, I shall receive willingly orders from persons sufficiently 

 reasonable to value what time and care it costs in the present day to obtain novel- 

 ties really decided. I shall always continue the cultivation of my seedlings ; 

 I shall never renounce them ; I shall rather increase them ; and shall propagate 

 but few others." 



M. Laffay wrote to me last autumn : " C'est mon intention de cesser le com- 

 merce. Mon projet etait de quitter cet automne, et de m'installer dans le sud de la 

 France, sous le climat des Orangers et Palmiers ; mais mon Pere, qui est tres age, 

 ne veut pas que nous le quittions cet hiver. Ce qui derange un pen nos projets 

 d'emigration, qui ne sont que retardes. Aussi il est bien possible que je vous offre 

 encore quelques bonnes Roses, sur-tout des Mousseuses Hybrides, car je me dispose 

 a faire un semis de plusieurs milles graines de ces varietes. Ainsi je presume que 

 ma Pepiniere sera encore bonne a visiter quelques annees. Je suis persuade qu'a 

 l'avenir nous verrons de bien belles Roses, qui effaceront toutes celles que nous 

 admirons maintenant. Les Mousseuses joueront bientot un grand role dans 

 1' Horticulture." 



" It is my intention to cease cultivating the Rose, in a commercial sense. My 

 project was to do so this autumn, and to instal myself in the south of France, in 

 the land of orange and palm-trees ; but my father, who is very aged, wished that we 

 should not quit Paris this winter. This deranges a little our plans of emigration, 



