X INTRODUCTION. 



pages, though a cultivator of them for sale, I have 

 endeavoured to lay aside all business prejudices, 

 and only to view them as an admiring amateur. 

 Varieties inserted in the catalogue, and not no- 

 ticed here, are, in many cases, equally beautiful 

 with those that are; but in these instances 

 they perhaps much resemble them, or at least 

 have no particular distinguishing traits. It may 

 be asked, Why, then, are so many varieties enu- 

 merated in the catalogue, if so few comparatively 

 can be recommended ? To this I reply, that some 

 roses resemble each other in the form and colour 

 of their flowers, yet differ much in the cha- 

 racter of their leaves, branches, and general 

 habit. Some will also often bloom out of cha- 

 racter, and imperfectly, one or two seasons con- 

 secutively, while others of the same colour and of 

 the same family are blooming well ; and then, 

 perhaps, for a like period, the former will have 

 their bright seasons of perfection, while the latter 

 receive some blighting check ; so that it is almost 

 necessary to have plants of different natures bear- 

 ing flowers alike. I may also mention, that in 

 moist showery weather, the flowers of some of 

 the extremely double roses cannot open, but those 

 of others less double, but like them in colour, 

 will open freely, and bloom in great perfection. 



