516 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE, 



Minimum No. of Petals. Maximum. 



Triomphe de La Duchese, . 90 95 



Prince Albert, ... 135 145 



Leon des Combats, . . 155 



To those familiar with the sizes and forms of these roses 

 it will be evident that the number of petals alone will not 

 convey the character of the rose. The conclusion I have 

 arrived at, after weighing all points, is, that a good descrip- 

 tion of a rose should embrace the following particulars in 

 the form : whether cupped, globular, expanded, loose, or com- 

 pact ; the diameter or breadth of the rose ; the height or 

 thickness of the rose, where practicable ; the average number 

 of petals, — their appearance, whether stiff and erect or turned 

 over, and about what proportion of them are under size, or 

 imperfectly formed. The odor of the rose : this is found to 

 vary very much. Anisette has the odor of anise seed ; White 

 Microphylla, of the magnolia ; Euphrosine, a tinge of jas- 

 mine ; Devoniensis, a combination of sweets hard to describe ; 

 Julie de Fontenelle and Harrison, yellow, of violets ; Clem- 

 ence Ruffin, of ottar of roses, with an admixture of lemon ; 

 Luxembourg, Victoria Modeste, Ophir, Jaune Desprez, and 

 some others, have a fruit-like ordor. The Musk Clusters are 

 said to have the odor of musk, but this is too equivocal to be 

 considered characteristic. 



The character of the rose for persistence may also be im- 

 portant. Some roses endure but one day after blooming, and 

 some continue in a good condition for a week. From the 

 rapid increase in improved varieties and the great number in 

 cultivation which must be yearly superseded, it is not improb- 

 able that rose growers will find it important and necessary to 

 hold conventions occasionally for the purpose of systematizing 

 the rose traffic, and, in fact, to regulate the whole business of 

 rose culture. 



Lovers of the rose will welcome this attempt of Prof. Page 

 to systematize and simplify the descriptions of its beautiful 

 flowers, which have heretofore been so barren and uncertain. 

 We shall look with great interest to the continuation of his 

 paper in another number. — Ed. 



