Vlll INTRODUCTION. 



culture than can be acquired by all practical men. 

 But it is not to these that I address myself. My 

 humble aim has been to present to the unexpe- 

 rienced lovers of the ROSE, a guide to enable them 

 to select, cultivate, and propagate their favourite 

 flower. The undertaking has occupied the greater 

 part of my leisure hours for the past two years, 

 during which period, observations made among 

 the numerous collections of nurserymen and ama- 

 teurs in this vicinity, induced me frequently to alter 

 descriptions I had already written, colours varying 

 to so great an extent in different soils and seasons. 



I have endeavoured to bring all my descriptions 

 to the standard of a mere admiring amateur; ad- 

 mitting that many roses resemble each other in 

 colour and form, while to a practised eye they may 

 appear very distinct in growth and other characters. 



The first season after planting, roses do not, in 

 general, flower in all the perfection to which they 

 can be brought after one or two years growth, 

 taking that time to become thoroughly established. 

 A few of the new kinds have bloomed but once ; 

 a very accurate description of such can scarcely 

 be expected ; and in some instances it may hereafter 

 appear that I have not done full justice to their 



