THE ROSE GARDEN. 7 



narrow, flat, pointed petals, and were very different in character from the present 

 favourites. The Florist and Amateur disliked the pointed flat-petalled flowers, 

 and they raised an ideal standard of perfection. All their endeavours were 

 directed towards the attainment of this. Dahlias, said they, should not be flat 

 flowers, but circular, forming half a ball : the petals should not be long and 

 pointed, but short, rounded at the edge, and cupped. Now mark the change that 

 has followed. The Dahlia has, so to speak, been remodelled. 



So, doubtless, it has been with the Rose, though its development has been more 

 gradual, has been spread over a greater extent of time, and has consequently been 

 less marked than in the above cases. We must remember that the Rose is not a 

 flower recently risen into favour, deriving its popularity from cultivators of the 

 present day alone : it is of the highest antiquity ; and the ancients having cherished 

 it so much, we may presume they would bestow some pains on its cultivation. 

 It is not then, I think, surprising, when Ave consider the length of time the Rose has 

 been under cultivation, and how freely the numerous species of which it is com- 

 posed intermix, — it is not, I say, surprising, that the varieties are removed to a 

 greater distance from the species than in either of the above-mentioned flowers. 

 The Dahlias are the offspring of a single species ; the Heartsease arose from two ; 

 but the Roses of our day claim no less than twenty species as their progenitors. 

 Should we not expect, then, from a larger surface on which to build, and a greater 

 quantity and choice of materials, added to which time almost unlimited, a super- 

 structure to arise more grand, more varied, more perfect ? 



In grouping the varieties, I have endeavoured not to increase more than neces- 

 sary the number of groups into which, on the authority of Rose cultivators, the 

 Rose at present stands divided. It were easy to effect a different arrangement, 

 and perhaps a better one; but it is questionable whether the improvement 

 would be sufficient to compensate for the confusion that must necessarily arise 

 from such a step. In one or two instances only have I therefore formed fresh 

 groups ; and where I have thought varieties to belong to other groups than those 

 in which some cultivators place them, they will be removed to what appears to me 

 a more correct position. To prevent confusion arising from this change, the 

 names will be retained in their accustomed places, the reader being referred to the 

 other groups for their description. 



It was conceived that the Hybrid Perpetual Roses differed too widely to remain 

 grouped as heretofore; witness, Clementine Duval, Gloire de Rosomene, Louis 

 Buonaparte, and Eliza Balcombe, being placed together. The original group of 

 Hybrid Perpetuals will be now divided into four, of which the varieties just men- 

 tioned may be considered the types. There are one or two other like cases which 

 will appear hereafter. 



It is thought desirable, before proceeding further, to explain certain terms which 

 it is found necessary to use in describing the varieties ; and the first which present 

 themselves are those relating to the size of the flowers. They areflve, namely : 



