PREFACE. 



purchasers, that many of the older and approved kinds 

 give place to those of more recent introduction, whose 

 merits, to say the most of them, are questionable. 



As far as possible, we have avoided entering into 

 detail on subjects not known to us, or to those in 

 this country whose judgment can be relied upon. 

 Were T\''e disposed, it v\^ould be an easy method of 

 attraction, to republish the volumes of European al^ 

 thors, but we prefer to have a smaller shadow, and 

 hope a better substance in detailing only what is, and 

 what can be practised and relied upon in this variable 

 climate. One deficiency, which all writers on the 

 Rose labour under, is the want of a classical nomen- 

 clature j many names are entirely fanciful, without 

 derivation or application ; catalogues cannot generally 

 be depended upon, either in name or description ; 

 even those who know and do all things more perfectly 

 than others, frequently fall into anomalies of the most 

 cxLtre character. However, this does not detract from 

 the beautiful new varieties that we have brought to 

 the notice of our readers, and Vvhoever of them visits 

 the " City of Love," bedded in roses, will find that its 

 Florists, Amateurs, and devoted cultivators are in the 

 advance, or at least not in the rear of any people, or 

 portion of the United States, in the knowledge, cul- 

 ture, and possession of this Queen of Flowers. 



ROBERT BUIST. 



