BEST VARIETIES WITH CHARACTERISTICS 



five hundred feet above sea level. In Southern Phila- 

 delphia, where the altitude is less, the bloom com- 

 mences at least ten days earlier. Of course, in all 

 localities the time of blooming is affected by the sea- 

 son. A month which gives cool weather and much 

 rain increases the blooming of a rose, and a month 

 of great heat and drought will naturally reduce the 

 number of flowers; but as the records are taken from 

 a number of years in the majority of cases, an average 

 should be reached which is exact enough for all re- 

 quirements. In a short test a rose may do well hi 

 one bed and badly in another. This has been insured 

 against as far as possible by planting a number of 

 roses of each variety, and having a test of never less 

 than two years. 



"Form" has been marked for the length and beauty 

 of the bud and also for the substance of the open 

 flower; petallageand size have both been considered; 

 short buds and blooms which open singly or flat are 

 marked "B," etc. 



"Lasting" refers entirely to the keeping qualities 

 both before and after cutting. 



"Color" is marked for the clearness and beauty of 

 the color; "B" or "C" are used if the rose is either 

 somewhat muddy or verges on a solferino shade, 

 which is not considered of the first beauty hi roses. 

 The color descriptions of the blooms in the Main List 



75 



