APPENDIX. 309 



nifiques" ? You do not expect me to purchase some 

 forty Rose-trees at three-and-sixpence apiece, in total 

 ignorance of their merits — if any? The gentle ama- 

 teur, 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 off in search of 

 safer food. 



It is quite true that a very large proportion of the glit- 

 tering gems which are sent to us by the French jewellers 

 turn out to be paste, and that some of the diamonds are 

 "Rose" diamonds indeed — that is, not of \\\^ 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 aflbrd to wait a season, until a Rose is proved 

 to be of superior excellence, but should have the happi- 

 ness of knowing, when some novelty is applauded by 

 all, that he purchased it in the preceding May, and that 

 he will have half-a-dozen trees of it next year in his bud- 

 ding-ground. These trees, and others of like excel- 

 lence, 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 supe- 

 rior merit have been sent out every spring during the last 



