44 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Societ}^ to send delegates to the meeting of that body at Washing- 

 ton, on the third Tuesday in February. 



Voted, That it is inexpedient to send delegates. 



The President also announced a letter from Charles Pease, of 

 East Rockport, Ohio, acknowledging the receipt of the resolutions 

 passed by the Society in memory of his father-in-law, the late Pro- 

 fessor Kirtland. 



Adjourned to Saturday, March 2. 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 



This was opened li}^ the following essa}^ b}^ William H. White, 

 of Westborough, for which a gratuity was awarded by the Com- 

 mittee on Publication and Discussion, and which was read by 

 E. W. Wood : 



The Culture and Varieties of Roses. 



Botanists enumerate some eighty or more species of the rose, 

 while florists give us an almost innumerable number of varieties, of 

 which but few are adapted for the general cultivator in any given 

 soil and latitude. To enumerate the species and varieties does not 

 come within the province of this essay, but it may be well to state 

 a few of the leading characteristics of what I consider a fine rose, 

 whatever the species or variety. Excepting the Moss rose, all 

 varieties should possess foliage of a bright shining green, which 

 color, to be perfect, needs to be permanent, although not likely to 

 be found in man}' varieties, ni}' preference being for a sort of ever- 

 green foliage. However size, form, etc., may vaiy in different 

 varieties, uniformity in the same variety is desirable. A tine rose 

 is one which is rich and beautiful in all its stages of bud and 

 blossom, up to, and previous to wide and full expansion. Single 

 and double flowers, while enclosed within their calyxes, are alike 

 beautiful up to a point where they expand to hide the calyx ; but 

 the double possess that characteristic which makes them magnificent 

 when full blown, while the single are best shown previous to full 

 expansion. Whatever difference there may be otherwise, the petals 

 of all roses should be thick, broad, and smooth at the edges. The 

 bud and blossom should possess fragrance, and the higher that fra- 

 grance the more valuable the variety. The flower should be double 



