298 APPENDIX. 



perhaps, in his guileless youth, has risen at some of these gaudy 

 flies, and been painfully pricked by the hook. He flaps his tail in 

 distrust, whenever he sees bright wings on the water, and swims oft 

 in search of safer food. 



It is quite true that a very large proportion of the glittering 

 gems which are sent to us by the French jewellers turn out to be 

 paste, and that some of the real diamonds are " Rose " diamonds 

 indeed — that is, not of \h^ first water ; but we must remember, at 

 the same time, that there are always some real brilliants among 

 them, and these the Rosarian who wishes for a perfect collection, 

 and the exhibitor who would not be left behind in the race, must 

 obtain at some risk, and at some apparent sacrifice. He cannot 

 afford to wait a season, until a Rose is proved to be of superior 

 excellence, but should have the happiness of knowing, when 

 some novelty is applauded by all, that he purchased it in the pre- 

 ceding May, and that he will have four or five trees of it next year 

 in his budding-ground. These trees, and others of like excellence, 

 will amply compensate for the disappointments around them, and, 

 if we take only a pecuniary view, will repay him with interest for 

 his outlay. 



I have therefore compiled, from reliable statistics, two tables 

 for the information and direction of amateurs ; the one designed 

 to prove to him that Roses of superior merit have been sent out 

 every spring during the last ten years, and the other giving the 

 names of those who sent them. The first statement should en- 

 courage him to purchase, and the second should be some guide in 

 his selection. He may reasonably expect that those Rosarians 

 who have sent us excellent Roses will continue to do so, and 

 seeing their names attached to the novelties in the spring lists of 



