CULTURE OF THE ROSE. 143 



one always likes to see in the establishment of a man like Laffay. 

 The French are, however, universally behind the English in this 

 respect, although much improvement has been made since the 

 abolition of the Le Notre style of gardening, and the introduction 

 of the natural style, or as they call it, the " Jardin Anglaise." 

 Many of Laffay's fine seedlings were injured by the unprecedented 

 cold of that year, but sufficient were left to produce some fine 

 varieties, which he kindly offered to send us from year to year 

 before placing them in commerce at home. He pursues a regular 

 system of hybridizing, and it is probably owing to his care in this 

 respect that his success has been so far beyond that of other cul- 

 tivators. M. Hardy, the director of the Luxembourg gardens, has 

 produced some fine varieties, but as we conversed with him only 

 a few minutes, amid the bustle of a horticultural exhibition, we 

 could not obtain from him much information respecting his modus 

 operandi. 



In Great Britain, although comparatively little attention has 

 been paid to the obtaining of new varieties, the culture is more 

 careful and the nomenclature more correct. The competition 

 excited by their numerous horticultural exhibitions, causes great 

 attention to be given to correct nomenclature and to symmetrical 

 habit of growth. We can imagine nothing more beautiful than 

 some of the plants that we saw at the exhibitions of the London 

 Horticultural Society at Chiswick ; every plant was pruned, trained 

 and grown, after an ideal, but perfect model, with its close and 

 luxuriant foliage, its thrifty, symmetrical habit, and the thick, 

 leatheiy petals of its well-cupped flower. This high standard 

 should be introduced into every society, and if such were the case 

 in this country and the rule carefully obeyed, the character of our 

 exhibitions would in a short time be very materially changed. 



T. Rivers is esteemed the most extensive rose cultivator in 

 England, and is also known as the author of a very excellent 

 descriptive work on the Rose. He has also been successful in 

 hybridizing, and has originated some very fine varieties. His 

 attention was at one time directed almost exclusively to the Rose, 

 but it now includes many other nursery articles, and on our visit 



