196 TUE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



thousands, Low many standard roses are distributed from the 

 nurseries, but it certainly cannot be less than 1,000,000, of the value 

 of £50,000 ; and, in addition, thousands of dwarfs in and out of pota, 

 are of course sold annually. This, it must be understood, is exclusive 

 of the new roses sent out every year, for these form an important 

 department of the rose trade ; and it is estimated that at least 

 £10,000 are paid annually to the French raisers for the new varieties 

 they have to offer, and these can hardly be propagated and placed ia 

 the hands of the English amateurs for a less sum than £20,000. 

 Therefore, there cannot be less than £100,000 expended annually 

 in the purchase of roses. 



Whilst the exhibitions have done much to encourage the cultiva- 

 tion of the rose throughout the country, the " Amateurs' Rose 

 Book," which is unquestionably the most valuable work on the 

 cultivation of roses in the English language, and the Floral 

 World, may fairly claim some of the credit. Certain it is that no 

 one can read the "Amateurs' Rose Book," which has now reached 

 its third edition, without being filled with a desire to form a 

 rose garden, and enter into the arena with his stands of twenty- 

 four, thirtv-six, or forty-eight cut blooms, according to the means 

 at command, and it is equally certain that the many timely bints on 

 selecting and cultivating which have appeared in the pages of the 

 Floral World, must have been of immense assistance to the culti- 

 vator in bringing his labours to a successful issue. I know the 

 advice on doubtful points that 1 have received through these publi- 

 cations has been most valuable to me, and gladly do I acknowledge 

 my indebtedness. Sometimes the advice most needed has referred 

 to some cultural detail, and at other times it has been in the form 

 of a criticism of the nev varieties. The articles on the new rosea 

 •which appear from time to time in the Floral World are by no 

 means the least valuable of its contents, and 1 am afraid to say how 

 much money I have saved within the last ten years by acting upon 

 the advice giveu^ and buying those only which have been recom- 

 mended, but I may say that by so doing 1 Lave avoided the purchase 

 of varieties that have ultimately proved to be inferior to those 

 already in the collection. 



In no year has the encouragement to rosarians been more liberal 

 than in the present season, auct fortunately there is an abundance of 

 flowers of good quality. It has been a trying season, for in the 

 spring we had a lonj; continuance of cold easterly winds. This was 

 followed by a period of brilliaut suushme and drought, and the trees 

 in many iuitances had more than their usual share of enemies to 

 contend with. The "worm in the bud" first, then the aphis, and 

 those who have succeeded in keeping these pests under have not 

 had their time hang heavily ou their hands. The rains which fell 

 about the middle of the mouth were of immense assistance in 

 helping the trees to fully develop their flowers, and they doubtless 

 have been tbe means of saving more than one rosarian from an igno- 

 minious defeat at the exhibition ; for on dry soils, where there is 

 al\\a)s more or less difficulty in the production of first-class blooms, 

 ihe drought was severely' lelt. 1 have not had so much trouble 



