Flowers and Gardens 



beauty. And observe what deep mean- 

 ing they throw into the aspect of the 

 Rose, giving it that expression of peace- 

 ful dreamy rest, something of which, 

 though varied in a hundred ways, is 

 common in blossoms where the stamens 

 are numerous, as, for instance, we may 

 often discern it in the Rock Rose and 

 Ranunculaceous orders. Now I have 

 here made a contrast the most unfavour- 

 able that could be thought of for my pur- 

 pose. I have taken one of the gardener's 

 noblest flowers, which has a dignity of 

 form united with a significance of ex- 

 pression, such as cannot be met with 

 in any other double flower, and yet I 

 think it must be felt that in the garden 

 plant a very great deal has been lost, 

 and furthermore that this loss is of im- 

 mense importance. 1 



1 The finest Dog-Roses I mean those which are the 

 deepest pink in many respects far surpass in colour the 

 double Garden Roses. In the first place, their blush is 

 almost unrivalled in the maiden softness of its glow. 

 Then observe through what a wide range of harmonies 

 we are led outermost you see this sweet glowing pink, 

 then a circle which is almost white, then the rich orange 

 of the stamens, and finally a green disc in the centre, all 

 these hues melting into and supporting each other with a 

 softness and beauty indescribable. Can we meet with 

 anything like this in the Garden Roses ? But the force 

 of the effect does not depend upon colour alone. If you 

 look at the Dog-Rose with half-closed eyes, and fancy 

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