CHAPTER IV. 



ON THE CHOICE AND ARRANGEMENT OF VARIETIES, AND 

 REMARKS ON PLANTING. 



Having formed the Rosarium, it may be well, before proceeding further, to ask 

 ourselves this question — Are the soil and locality sufficiently favourable to admit 

 of the successful cultivation of all kinds indiscriminately? If so, so much the 

 better ; for variation in character is certainly desip.ble, and each group pos- 

 sesses some particular feature to recommend it. There are the Damask Per- 

 petual, and the Tea-scented, justly celebrated for their fragrance. The Hybrids 

 of the Chinese have an equal claim, on account of their finely-shaped flowers and 

 great variation in colour ; besides which, they are the hardiest of Roses, thriving 

 in less favourable situations than most others. Then there are the Chinese, re- 

 markable for great regularity of growth, and whose flowers are produced in gay 

 profusion in Spring, Summer, and Autumn, and which only cease to blow when the 

 chill breath of winter strikes them, heralding the approach of the season of repose. 

 In addition to these, there are the Provence, the Moss, the Damask, the Alba, the 

 Hybrid Perpetual, and the Bourbon — the two latter blooming almost as con- 

 stantly and as long as the Chinese — and many other groups as interesting, if not 

 so extensive, or so generally known. Can we, in planting the Rosarium, wholly 

 dispense with any group ? We think not. To render the design complete, a few 

 varieties from each should be chosen : the cultivator may have his favourite 

 groups, and introduce them in greater quantity ; but if the soil and situation are 

 good, he should not wholly exclude any. 



We now intend to note the number of varieties we should draw from each group, 

 were we about to plant a Rosarium for ourselves : this, we believe, will prove 

 useful to some of our readers. And in order to do justice to so difficult a task, 

 I have carefully considered the varieties separately, and in many instances weighed 

 them the one against the other. Let us suppose a Rosarium to require five 

 hundred plants ; and as all have not precisely the same objects in view in planting, 

 it may be well to offer two arrangements. 



1. Where the design is to introduce as great a variety as possible, without 

 sacrificing desirable qualities or beauty : 



