GARDEN ROSES. I97 



have been previously discussed. They are available as 

 standards also, the best for that purpose being Solfaterre. 

 I have found Narcisse to be hardy in all winters save that 

 of 1860-61 ; and its lovely Roses, white, deepening to a 

 primrose centre, claim a place in every Rosarium. The 

 time will soon be here when Celine Forestier and Triomphe 

 de Rennes will take their place, a high one, among garden 

 Roses, but in our present scarcity of yellow flowers they are 

 valuable as exhibition varieties. 



And now, my reader, as when eating our strawberries in 

 early youth, boys by their mothers', girls by their fathers' 

 sides, we reserved the largest to the last ; or as when, in 

 later years, we loved something more dearly even than 

 strawberries — making with the Yorkshire rustic our tender 

 confession, " I loikes poi, Mary ; but, oh Mary, I loikes you 

 better nor poi ! " — we, meeting in mixed company, reserved 

 for our beloved the final fond farewell — or meeting, not in 

 mixed company, found that the sweetest which was, alas ! 

 the parting kiss ; even so have I reserved for my conclusive 

 chapters the Roses which I love the best — those Roses 

 which are chosen for their more perfect beauty, like the 

 fairest maidens at some public fete, to represent the sister- 

 hood before a wondering world. 



