64 THE AYESHIEE EOSE. 



surpassed in beauty by the varieties of Rosa sem- 

 pervirens; still they have distinct and desirable 

 qualities : they bloom nearly a fortnight earlier 

 than the roses of that division ; they will grow 

 where no other rose will exist ; and to climb up 

 the stems of timber trees in plantations near 

 frequented walks, and to form undergrowth, they 

 are admirably well adapted ; they also make 

 graceful and beautiful standards, for the ends of 

 the branches descend and shade the stems, which 

 in consequence increase rapidly in bulk. It 

 seems probable that Ayrshire Roses will grow to 

 an enormous size as standards, and surpass in the 

 beauty of their singular dome-shaped heads many 

 other roses more prized for their rarity. I have 

 at this time (1854) two standards of Bennet's 

 seedling about ten years old ; their stems are ten 

 inches in circumference, their branches trail on 

 the ground, and when in full bloom nothing can 

 be more beautiful ; they have never been touched 

 with the pruning knife. 



I have a steep bank of a hard white clay, which 

 owing to a cutting made in the road became too 

 steep for cultivation. About sixteen years since 

 this was planted with Ayrshire and other climbing 

 roses ; holes were made in the hard soil with a 

 pick two feet over and two feet deep ; some ma- 

 nure mixed with the clay, after it had lain exposed 

 to frost to mellow it, and climbing roses planted. 

 This bank is, when the roses are in bloom, a mass 



