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♦ The Rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem 

 For that sweet odor which doth in it live. 

 The canker blooms have full as deep a dye 

 As the perfumed tincture of the Roses, 

 Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly, 

 When summer's breath tlieir masked buds discloses. 

 But, for their virtue only is their siiovv^. 

 They live unmoved, and unrespected fade ; 

 Die to themselves ; sweet Roses do not so ; 

 Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odors made.' " 



*'The Moss Rose, or Moss Provence Hose, is well-known 

 as an elegant plant. The flowers are deeply colored, and 

 the rich mossiness which surrounds them, gives them a 

 luxuriant appearance not easily described ; but it is famil- 

 iar to every one. It is a fragrant flower ; its country is 

 not known to us, and we know it only as a double flower. 



" The origin of its mossy vest has been explained to us 

 by a German writer : — 



' The angel of the flowers one day 

 Beneath a Rose-tree sleeping lay : 

 That spirit to wliose charge is given 

 To bathe young buds in dews from heaven ; 

 Awaking from his light repose, 

 The angel whispered to the Rose : 

 ' O fondest object of my care, 

 Still fairest found where all are fair. 

 For the sweet sliade thou'st given to me, 

 Ask what thou wilt, 't is granted thee.' 

 ' Then,' said the Rose, with deepened glow, 

 ' On me another grace bestow.' 

 Tiie spirit paused in silent thought ; 

 What grace w as there that flower had not ! 

 ' T was but a moment ; — o'er the Rose 

 A veil of moss the angel throws; 

 And, robed in nature's simplest weed. 

 Could there a flower that Rose exceed ? ' " 



We now proceed to give some practical instruction in 

 relation to the Rose. 



Soil. — Roses will succeed well in any good garden soil, 

 but to have them in perfection, it is necessary that the 

 soil be well enriched and deeply dug. The Rose, like the 

 vine, is a gross feeder, and is not injured by heavy ma- 



