24 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



enter our domain, to gormandize on the provision made for our favourites. This, 

 we think, would be justifiable. We are acting in self-defence. They are robbers, and 

 deserve punishment, although it must not be such as to do them permanent injury. 

 Then, again, as to soils : some are sandy ; others are clayey, wet, cold, and alto- 

 gether uncongenial to vegetation. In a word, we cannot always suit our gardens 

 to your Roses : your Roses must therefore be brought to suit our gardens." 



Those who are free from all these annoyances may think themselves fortunate. 

 The number of complaints of this kind received from amateurs possessing small 

 gardens, which they make their chief source of relaxation and amusement, satisfy 

 us they are great. It must be admitted, that localities are often unfavourable, and 

 hardly capable of improvement. With this, then, we must endure, and seek the 

 remedy in the choice of varieties ; selecting such as our own experience, or that 

 of our friends, point out as succeeding best under such circumstances. It is well 

 known that some kinds will grow and flourish where others will scarcely exist. 

 Were this fact taken advantage of by those who plant in unfavourable situations, 

 or unkindly soils, doubtless less failures in Rose-culture would ensue. But it 

 may be said, Some of the most delicate in habit are the most beautiful of Roses, 

 and how can we dispense with such ? That the varieties possessed of the most 

 bewitching forms and tints are most difficult of culture, is, to a certain extent, 

 true ; but we opine, that a Rose, which will flourish and blossom in a doubtful 

 situation, or in an unfriendly soil, is greatly to be preferred for such, to one 

 which would only exist there as an unhealthy plant, though the latter were 

 greatly its superior in point of beauty. I have known instances in which varieties 

 of the most delicate growth have been selected, time after time, to occupy the 

 most unfavourable situations; and this against all remonstrance, and the know- 

 ledge of the cultivator, bought by experience, that they will not succeed. Varieties 

 are often chosen and planted, without paying sufficient attention to their aptitude 

 for the purpose or position they are wanted for. They are chosen because 

 admired most — because they are the most beautiful. Now what are the conse- 

 quences? That which should yield pleasure, produces, by constant failure, 

 indifference or disgust ; and their culture is abandoned. Tbis is to be lamented ; 

 for if circumstances are unfavourable for the cultivation of particular varieties, 

 others, that are likely to succeed, should be chosen. And the amateur need 

 not be altogether without his favourite kinds. If unsuited for out-of-door culture 

 in some places, they may be grown to perfection in pots, under glass. In this 

 manner, with due care, they always succeed well ; and, by the increased beauty 

 of their foliage and flowers, fully condensate for the additional attention paid 

 to them. I here allude only to such as are very susceptible of frost, or of weak 

 and delicate growth, confining the suggestion to no one group in particular, 

 nor excluding varieties of such character from any group. If an illustration 

 be needed, we may instance Le Grand Capitaine and Coquette de Montmorency 

 (Bourbon Perpetuals), Eliza Sauvage, and several others of the Tea-scented. 

 These, and the like, will not thrive in unfavourable situations or unkindly soils. 



