SELECTION. 133 



played such feeble charms that no one mourned 

 her sterility. Suddenly, unexpectedly, she pro- 

 duced a paragon. 



Thus I wrote in the former editions of my 

 book, and then gave as my reason for not award- 

 ing to the Marechal precedence over all other 

 Climbing Roses the fact, that he had not as yet 

 passed the ordeal of one of our severest winters. 

 In common with many other Rosarians, I thought 

 that he was perfectly hardy, but I resolved to 

 abide by the invariable rule, which I have ever 

 observed in writing about Roses, to make no 

 statements on hearsay or at hazard, but those only 

 which I had proved to be true. A sorrowful ex- 

 perience has since confirmed the prudence of that 

 resolution. In the spring-tide of the year 1871, 

 I gazed, a sadder and a wiser man, upon the black 

 branches of my best specimen, and Marechal Niel 

 was as lifeless as Mare'chal Ney. And in the 

 summer of 1877 I found, upon some thirty trees, 

 but few perfect specimens, all being more or less 

 injured by the frosts of early spring. 



What Rose, do you think, shall I plant in his 

 place ? The nearest resemblance to his living self 

 on which I can lay my hands. " And the 

 grounds" (you ask sarcastically), " of this love for 

 corpses ?" The grounds, stern censor, are these. 



