io8 THE ROSE. 



hands, and it is finally discarded as worthless ; 

 or it may be, the sort in question proves to 

 be a kind that gives a few good blooms in 

 June and plenty of shoots and leaves the rest 

 of the year, but nothing else. Wrong im- 

 pressions are doubtless often received at 

 these exhibits, for to gain by observation a 

 correct impression of the general qualities of 

 any variety it must be seen at different times, 

 growing in the garden or nursery row in 

 quantity. On the other hand, these exhibi- 

 tions certainly make prominent the more 

 beautiful roses, and as we are first attracted 

 to a rose by the richness or delicacy of its 

 color, and the symmetry of its form, we have 

 placed before us for easy comparison the 

 highest types of beauty to be found in the 

 rose family; and although from seeing in- 

 dividual flowers we learn nothing of the 

 character of varieties, as respects profusion 

 and continuity of bloom, or vigor and health- 

 fulness of growth, we, nevertheless, can be 

 assured that those kinds which appear fre- 

 quently and in great perfection in different 

 boxes are kinds which will certainly be useful 

 ones for general cultivation. Varieties, 

 particularly those not of recent origin, which 

 now and then sparsely appear in great beauty, 

 are not to be trusted on prima-facie evidence. 



