222 THE ROSE. 



acteristic features in common ; thus, varieties 

 of the same type will nearly always effect 

 good crosses, as General Jacqueminot with 

 Xavier Olibo, Madame Victor Verdier with 

 E. Y. Teas ; but, on account of a certain re- 

 semblance which must prevail among the 

 kinds of one type, we are less likely to obtain 

 new sorts of any marked individuality than 

 would result from hybridizing varieties of one 

 group by those of another not too widely 

 separated group ; in other words, we should 

 avoid the extremes of crossing varieties too 

 much alike, and of hybridizing one kind by 

 another so widely removed in characteristics 

 that a successful, healthy progeny cannot re- 

 sult. Here is a vast field still largely unex- 

 plored in which to study and experiment. 

 This is not a matter to be confined to scien- 

 tists ; all who truly love roses, all that have 

 some knowledge of their individual peculiar- 

 ities, may engage in this fascinating pursuit 

 with probabilities of success. 



"This is an art 



Which does mend nature, change it rather ; but 

 The art itself is nature. " 



A common error committed by the beginner 

 is in attempting to grow varieties that are of 

 delicate habit and feeble constitution. At- 



