10 INTRODUCTION. 



having carefully put in practice the methods found suc- 

 cessful abroad, is enabled to judge with some confidence 

 of the extent to which they are applicable here, and to 

 point out exceptions and modifications demanded by the 

 nature of our climate. 



Among English writers on the rose, the best are Paul, 

 Rivers, and more recently Cranston, together with the 

 vivacious Mr. Radclyffe, a clergyman, a horticulturist, an 

 excellent amateur of the rose, and a very amusing con- 

 tributor to the "Florist." In France, Deslongchamps and 

 several able contributors to the "Revue Horticole" are the 

 most prominent. From these sources the writer of this 

 book drew the instructions and hints which at first 

 formed the basis of his practice ; but he soon found that 

 he must greatly modify it in accordance with American 

 necessities. There was much to be added, much to bo 

 discarded, and much to be changed ; and the results to 

 which he arrived are given, as compactly as possible, in 

 the following pages. 



JA. 1, 1866. 



