THE ROSE GARDEN. 83 



nently more favourable than Paris for the pursuit ? No one. But suppose the 

 Parisian growers had rested contented with these reflections, what position would 

 the Rose now hold in the floral world ? And if English cultivators had joined 

 ardently in the pursuit, who can say to what pitch of beauty the Queen of 

 Flowers might have attained? 



What country ranks equal with England in the art of Gardening ? yet how 

 many are there more favourably circumstanced. This, it may be said, is partly 

 due to the great liberality of its patrons, and to the admirable contrivance of 

 its plant structures. But still the English cultivator has great disadvantages to 

 contend with, especially in raising plants under glass. But obstacles surmounted 

 encourage him to go on : he continues to battle with the elements, and his intel- 

 lectual powers seem to brighten in the contest. He produces Grapes superior to 

 those brought from the Land of the Vine, and Pine Apples infinitely so to those 

 of West-Indian production. These are facts known to every one; and will it yet 

 be maintained that he cannot raise seedling Roses ? * 



But, it may be said, Hybridizing and Cross-breeding are not the work of the 

 gardener. It requires an uninterrupted course of study to enable any one to carry 

 them out with success ; and his multifarious duties render it next to impossible 

 that he should pursue this. There is much truth in this assertion, and the 

 nurseryman may certainly put forward a similar plea. The weight of the bur- 

 den, then, would seem to rest with the amateur. And it has always appeared 

 to me that his is the proper sphere for the raising of seedlings, and that greater 

 objects are accomplished in this line when pursued as a relaxation than as a pro- 

 fession. If the amateur has had less experience in gardening matters, this seems 

 compensated for by a less divided attention and greater assiduity. 



If the Tea-scented and Chinese be the kinds the operator prefers seeding from, 

 it will be necessary to grow them under glass, as they are longer in bringing their 

 seeds to maturity than most other kinds. The majority of seed-bearers, however, 

 need no such protection : they thrive and complete their work perfectly out of 

 doors. 



It is now about six years since I took up this branch of culture, and although I 

 have yet reaped no reward I am still sanguine of success. I started a tyro, with 



* So was it said, not many years ago, that Standard Roses could not be grown in England — 

 that the climate of France was essential for their development. Thus prejudice, for a time, 

 triumphed over reason, and they were imported from that country for years. At length, one 

 or two individuals in England took up the work, and held up to view superior plants of their 

 own production. The question of the purchaser to the vendor of Standard Roses was, formerly, 

 Are they French ? An answer in the affirmative was their passport to favour. The same ques- 

 tion is still asked, but the negative is now the recommendation. English cultivators had not 

 grown them, and they suffered themselves to rest long satisfied that they could not. And the 

 reason why so few seedling Roses have been originated in England is doubtless this — nursery- 

 men have found sufficient occupation in multiplying the kinds put into their hands ; amateurs in 

 admiring and attending to the varied wants of their favourites. 



