A SIMPLE ROSE GARDEN 129 



the past among historic roses, because we cannot 

 imagine a time when it was not. This is a rose to 

 pick by the armful, and grown in masses it lends an 

 air of luxury to the simplest garden. 



Personally, I object to the rambler tribe of roses for 

 any but large gardens, where in a certain sense the 

 personality of flowers must sometimes be lost in decora- 

 tive effect. A scentless rose has no right to intrude on 

 the tender intimacies of the woman's garden, but 

 pruned back to a tall standard it may be cautiously 

 mingled with Madame Plantier with good effect, lend- 

 ing the pale lady the reflected touch of the colour that 

 gives life. 



For the pergola a few ramblers may be used for 

 rapid effect, while the slower growing varieties are 

 making wood, but sooner or later I'm sure that they will 

 disappear before more friendly roses, and even to-day 

 the old-fashioned Gem of the Prairies, Felicite Per- 

 petual, and Baltimore Belle seem to me worthier. Col- 

 our and profusion the rambler has, but equally so has 

 the torrent of coloured paper flowers that pours out of 

 the juggler's hat, and they are much bigger. 



No, I'm apt to be emphatic (Evan calls it pertina- 

 cious), but I'm sure the time will come when at least 

 the crimson rambler, trained over a gas-pipe arch, 



