8 THE ROSE. 



known as nearly as possible, form many groups, 

 classes, divisions, and subdivisions — enough to 

 make the head of the reader swim in a sea of per- 

 plexity ; others, in order to avoid a multiplicity 

 of groups, narrow the classification to a few divis- 

 ions, and in so doing, bury completely the dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics of a variety. The 

 former, besides arranging Hybrid Perpetuals into 

 groups of Hybrid Noisettes and Hybrid Teas, 

 further divide them into such groups as Hybrid 

 Bourbons, Rose de Rosomane, Rose de Trianon, 

 etc. The latter would place all these among 

 Hybrid Perpetuals. I contess to leaning tow- 

 ards this latter class ; but where we have dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics that are very marked, 

 and other new varieties of the same or similar 

 peculiarities, are following, it seems desirable to 

 provide a distinctive name and division for them. 

 Thus, when Guillot introduced La France, it was 

 appropriately, placed among the Hybrid Perpet- 

 ual Roses, although known to have originated 

 from the seed of a Tea Rose. It would have 

 been unwise to make a class for the exclusive 

 benefit of this beauty, trusting that worthy 

 companions might in the future be found for 



