84 • THE WILD CxARDEN. 



the tall-growing Laurels, sometimes sending out a shoot 

 of white Howers on this side and sometimes on that 

 side of tlie clump of l)ushes, and sometimes scraml)ling 

 up to the to2:)s of the tallest limbs and draping them 

 with its blossoms throughout June and -Tuly. Nearly 

 three years ago we had the Laurels headed down to within 

 six feet of the ground, leaving tlie straggling limbs of the 

 Eose which were found amongst them, and since then it has 

 grown and thriven amazingly, and now fiiirly threatens to 

 gain the mastery. We had the curiosity to measure the 

 plant the other day, and found it rather over seventy feet in 

 circumference. Witliin this space the plant forms an irregular 

 undulating mound, nearly in all parts so densely covered with 

 Eoses that not so much as a hand's breadth is left vacant any- 

 where, and the Laurel branches are quite hidden, and in fact 

 are now dying, smothered by the Eose. A finer example of 

 luxuriant development we never saw. The plant has been a 

 perfect sheet of bloom for a mouth or more, and there are 

 thousands of buds yet to expand, and hundreds of Ijunches of 

 buds have been cut just at the opening stage — when they are 

 neater and whiter than a (lardenia — to send away. The tree 

 has never received the least attention or assistance with the 

 exception of the removal of the Laurel tops before mentioned, 

 to let the light into it. It is growing in a tolerably deep and 

 strong dry loam, and this, together with head room, seems to 

 be all it requires. We record this example simply to show 

 of what the Eose is capable without much cultural assistance. 

 No doubt, in order to produce fine individual blooms certain 

 restricted culture is necessary ; but almost any variety of 

 Eose will make a aood-sized natural bush of itself, and as for 



