12 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



profound ignorance to have anything to do with Roses. 

 You asked me to give you a list of the best, and I did so 

 reluctantly, knowing that you had neither the taste nor the 

 energy to do them justice. As to the outlay, the animal on 

 which you have recklessly placed yourself, and whose hocks 

 are a disgrace to this park, cost you, I know, more than 

 eighty guineas ; and for a tithe of that sum, without further 

 supervision or effort, you expect a beautiful Rose-garden. 

 I rejoice to hear that the curate beat you, just as that ear- 

 nest boy on his nimble pony is out-trotting at this moment 

 your expensive but tard}' steed." 



Not a soup(^on of sympathy can I ever feel for the dis- 

 comfiture of those Rose-growers who trust in riches. They 

 see lovely blooms at the Rose-shows (yea, the Duchess of 

 Kensington said that they were lovely) — selected, probably, 

 from fifty thousand trees, and the results of excellent cul- 

 ture, untiring vigilance, and care — and they say. We will 

 have these Roses for our own forthwith, and in abundance. 

 They have only to put down the names, give an order, and 

 sign a cheque, to buy as they buy chairs and tables. They 

 go home and tell their gardener that they have ordered a 

 most splendid collection of Rose-trees, and that they quite 

 expect him next summer to have the best display in the 



