VI PREFACE. 



of the new roses, has induced me not to attempt 

 a description of all of them ; for till they have 

 bloomed in the open ground, and under different 

 circumstances, at least two seasons, a proper esti- 

 mate cannot be formed of their qualities. As the 

 leading characters of those are given in the cata- 

 logue published annually in the autumn, which 

 will always be sent by post on a paid application, 

 I flatter myself this seeming omission will be 

 excused. Instructions for budding, grafting, 

 and other modes of propagating roses are given in 

 every gardening book; I have not, therefore, 

 thought it worth while to endeavour to impart 

 any of my knowledge in those matters. But my 

 principal motive for omitting this branch of rose 

 culture is the impossibility of conveying by words 

 any tangible idea of the nicer modes of practice : 

 it is very easy to show how to insert a bud, or put 

 on a graft, but almost impossible to tell it. 



Roses may be struck from cuttings, and budded 

 and grafted from March to September if the buds, 

 grafts, and stocks are in a proper state. It is only 

 incessant practice that can give this knowledge, as 

 almost every family, and even different varieties 

 of the same family, require peculiar treatment. 

 A small volume might be written on this subject. 

 Perhaps when the hoar frost of age has powdered 



