THE ROSE 247 



Moreover, the rose is entitled to be considered 

 preeminently the universal flower. It doubtless 

 excels all others in popularity and it differs from 

 most others in that it is prized equally in its dif- 

 ferent varieties for its form, its color, and its 

 fragrance. 



As to all of these, to be sure, approximate per- 

 fection appears to have been attained with a good 

 many varieties of roses. Yet the fact that new 

 varieties are from time to time put forward shows 

 that there is always opportunity for improve- 

 ment. I have emphasized certain directions in 

 which the improvement of the many varieties is 

 possible notably in the matter of hardiness and 

 resistance to disease. 



THE OPPORTUNITY FOE NEW ROSES 



But, in fact, the list of qualities that are taken 

 into consideration by the connoisseur as well as 

 the commercial grower of roses is so extensive that 

 there is opportunity for development through 

 selective breeding of almost any existing variety 

 as to one or another trait that it lacks. Abun- 

 dance of bloom, lasting qualities of the flower, 

 beautiful buds, long stems, handsome foliage 

 these are qualities in addition to the fundamental 

 ones of hardiness and resistance to disease that 

 must be t^aken into account in estimating the 



