CHAPTER III. 



REMARKS ON THE FORMATION OF THE ROSARIUM, AND ON 

 THE INTRODUCTION OF ROSES TO THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



In the formation of the Rosarium, it appears to us that the simpler the forms of 

 the beds the better. The plants of which it is composed are for the most part 

 budded on stems, and decidedly artificial objects ; and parallelograms, squares, 

 circles, ovals, and other regular figures, are in perfect harmony with the character 

 of the plants; admit of the most perfect arrangement; a.nd display the Roses to 

 greatest advantage. 



When the Rosarium is intended to be of large or even moderate size, there 

 should be two compartments ; the one for the summer kinds exclusively, the other 

 to contain the autumnals. The boundary of each may be defined by planting a 

 single row of Pillar-Roses at intervals of a yard apart. When they reach *the height 

 of five feet, each alternate plant may be removed, and small chains be fixed from 

 pillar to pillar, hanging in graceful curves the entire length of the line. Over 

 these some of the branches may be trained to form elegant festoons, two or three 

 shoots being allowed to ascend the pillar until they reach such height as circum- 

 stances or taste may point out as desirable. 



If Pillar-Roses are not approved of to form the line of demarcation, the same 

 end may be accomplished by a rustic fence, which should be covered with some 

 particular kind of Rose suited for the purpose. It should be a good, free 

 flowering, hardy variety, whether a summer or autumn bloomer : if the latter is 

 preferred, the Bourbon or Noisette offer the best kinds. Or again, this would 

 seem a fitting opportunity of introducing the Sweet-briar, which should abound 

 in every Rosarium ; for the delicious fragrance of its young leaves in the earliest 

 of spring, the delicacy of its blossoms in summer, and the gay appearance of the 

 scarlet hips it produces in the autumn, must recommend it to every observer. 



The walks of the Rosarium should be invariably of grass, which sets off 

 the plants, when in flower, to much greater advantage than gravel. Grass 

 walks are objected to by some because unpleasant to walk upon early in the 

 morning, or after a shower of rain ; but they give such a finish to the Rosa- 

 rium, and lend such a freshness and brilliancy to the flowers, that it were a pity 

 to forego these advantages solely on this account. And if the grass is kept closely 

 mown, the force of this objection is greatly abated. 



