102 THE SUMMER ROSE GARDEN. 



is fully Expanded it 'must be fertilised with a 

 flower' cf SQii^e *vaiiety> of which it is desired to 

 ha ve" seedlings 'pai'takiirg largely of its qualities. 

 To exemplify this,, we will suppose that a climbing 

 Moss Eose with red or crimson flowers is wished 

 for: the flowers of the Blush Ayrshire, which 

 bears seed abundantly, may be selected, and 

 before expansion the anthers removed; the fol- 

 lowing morning, or as soon after the operation as 

 these flowers open, they should be fertilised with 

 those of the Luxembourg Moss; if the opera- 

 tion succeed, seed will be procured, from which 

 the probability is, that a climbing rose will be 

 produced with the habit and flowers of the Moss 

 Eose, or at least an approximation to them ; and 

 as these hybrids often bear seed freely, by repeat- 

 ing the process with them, the at present apparent 

 remote chance of getting a climbing Moss Eose 

 may be brought very near. 



I mention the union of the Moss and Ayrshire 

 Eose by way of illustration, and merely to point 

 out to the amateur how extensive and how in- 

 teresting a field of operations is open in this way. 

 I ought to give a fact that has occurred in my 

 own experience, which will tell better with the 

 sceptical than a thousand anticipations. About 

 four years since, in a pan of seedling Moss Eoses, 

 was one with a most peculiar habit, even when 

 very young ; this has since proved a hybrid rose, 

 partaking much more of the Scotch Eose than of 



