Rose Stocks. 3 



countenance as far as possible two days' shows; and the 

 impetus it gave to Rose-growing all are free to acknowledge. 

 Each year since then the Society has held exhibitions, not 

 only in London, but in such large provincial centres as Shef- 

 field, Manchester, Southampton, Bath, Birmingham, and 

 Darlington, and wherever they have been held they have 

 stimulated the growth of the Rose, and induced many who 

 had not hitherto attempted its cultivation to commence. The 

 National Rose Society has likewise given a better knowledge 

 of the flowers; has published instructions for cultivation, 

 issued an elaborate and most carefully-illustrated catalogue 

 of the best Roses, both for exhibition and for the garden, 

 and has greatly encouraged a kindly intercourse between all 

 lovers of the Rose, which has been productive of much good. 

 Societies affiliated with it have sprung up in all parts of 

 the kingdom, and to obtain its honours is a most coveted 

 matter with Rose-growers. 



Before dealing with the cultural part of our subject it 

 will be well briefly to glance at the various stocks employed, 

 as they have an important bearing on the future of the 

 plant. 



Rose Stocks. 

 The Briar Standard. 



For many years the Standard held its place pre-eminent 

 amongst Rose-cultivators, but the experience of some severe 

 winters was so painful, and the losses were so great, both 

 here and in France, that growers gradually came to the 

 conclusion that it was safer and better to grow Dwarfs. The 

 Standard Rose could never be considered a " thing of 

 beauty," and when to its extreme ugliness there was added 

 the probability of its succumbing to a severe winter, it was 

 gradually put on one side. There are still people who fancy 

 that a villa garden cannot be complete without a row of 

 Standard Roses, planted at equal distances on the grass or 



B 2 



