VI INTRODUCTION. 



But it is not to these that I address myself. My hum- 

 ble aim has been to present to the inexperienced 

 lovers of the Kose, a guide to enable them to select, 

 cultivate, and propagate their favourite flower. Our 

 observations made among the numerous collections of 

 nurserymen and amateurs in this vicinity, induced me 

 frequently to alt^r descriptions 1 had already written, 

 colours varying to so great an extent in different soils 

 and seasons. 



We were at one period almost the exclusive grow- 

 er and cultivator of the Kose ; not so now, large 

 collections are arising of decided merit, and well- 

 g:*own, by Jas. Ritchie, florist, Kensington, and John 

 Sherwood, florist, College Wharf, near Bristol, Pa. 



The first season after planting, roses do not, in gener- 

 al, flower in all the perfection to which they can be 

 brought after one or two years' growth, taking that 

 tinne to become thoroughly established. A few of the 

 new kinds have bloomed but once ; a very accurate 

 description of such can scarcely be expected ; and in 

 some instances it may hereafter appear that I have 

 not done full justice to their real merit. Amateurs 

 have hitherto found great diflTiculty in selecting from 

 the catalogues of nurserymen. This treatise, we 

 hope, may be found of service in assisting them to 

 form, their collections 5 and the index of names, re- 

 ferring, as it does, to the character of every rose 



