198 ON TRAINING ROSES, &C. 



of the forest. We may rest assured, for all philosophy, and all 

 observation, and all reason prove it, that there is no such thing in 

 nature as blind chance ; but that all things have been carefully 

 and wisely designed with reference to the particular circum- 

 stances under which they exist." (Lindley in U. K. Society's 

 Botany, p. 119.) 



In addition to the above works, I would refer Cryptos to the 

 latter author's, Nat. Syst. p. 420, in which, as well as in the 

 above quoted works, he will, I think, find sufficient information 

 to convince any reasonable man. 



July 10th, 1839. F. B. S. E. 



ARTICLE II. 



ON TRAINING ROSES, AND OTHER CLIMBING PLANTS, IN THE 

 FLOWER GARDEN. 



BY A NOBLEMAN'S FLOWER GARDENER. 



Op the numerous forms and modes of growth which plants ex- 

 hibit, the climbing or twining habit would seem to be the most 

 graceful and interesting. As man is accustomed to regard more 

 tenderly and fervently such objects as depend upon, or, as it were, 

 cling to him for protection and support ; so, in the vegetable 

 world, those plants appear to excite the greatest interest which 

 require the assistance of their more robust neighbours to maintain 

 them in their needful position, and uphold them from grovelling 

 prostration. There is however a general gracefulness and beauty 

 in the plants of this class and I have always observed that climb- 

 ing plants are acknowledged favourites with persons of refined 

 taste and sensitive minds. 



Their sprightly and elegant disposition, the enchanting irregu- 

 larity and negligence with which their branches are arranged and 

 entangled, and the beautiful manner in which the extremities of 

 these protrude so as best to exhibit their varied blossoms, each 

 contribute to heighten their attractions. I now allude chiefly to 

 their appearance in a natural state, for when subjected to the 

 operations of training and pruning, it deprives them of much of 

 that pleasing simplicity which otherwise characterizes them. 



It is to be regretted that many kinds of vigorous growing plants 

 are trained to walls and trellises which ought not to be substituted 

 for that which nature teaches us is the most graceful and ornament- 



