18 The Rose Garden. 



M. Hardy was no stranger in the Rose world ; one of his varieties alone (Madame 

 Hardy) would have sufficed to render his name popular ; but he was fortunate enough 

 to raise many others of first-rate properties, some bearing the after-appellation of 

 " Du Luxembourg." And how could it be otherwise, when he devoted so many years 

 to the cultivation of this flower, and raised so many thousands of seedlings? He 

 never practised selling his Roses, but exchanged with his friends for other plants. 

 He retired from the superintendence of these gardens some thirty-five years ago, and 

 was succeeded first by Monsieur Riviere, and afterwards by M. Jolebois, under whose 

 charge the Roses we believe now are. 



The Rose amateurs of France, who are exceedingly numerous, are enthusiastic in 

 the cultivation of their favourite. So soon as they hear of any new variety possessed 

 of merit, they cease not to importune the raiser till he places it within their reach. 



While admitting France to have been more successful than England in the pro- 

 duction of new Roses, it is yet worthy of remark that the English cultivators produce 

 plants more acceptable to the English taste. Although I may be ranked among the 

 former, I state this, not from prejudice, nor from interest, but from a thorough 

 conviction of its truth. If proof be needed, it may be found in the large exports of 

 the French varieties, of English growth, to America and elsewhere. It may not be 

 generally known that some few of the finest and most esteemed Roses in France do 

 not succeed well in this country. On the other hand, many kinds are developed in 

 far greater perfection here than there. The flowers of Roses generally suffer from the 

 drier air and scorching of the summer's sun in France ; even here it is during our 

 cloudy days, or when refreshed with a soft shower or copious dew, that the buds 

 expand in fullest beauty. 



I cannot help mentioning the jealousies which exist among some of the 

 " Cultivateurs de Rosiers " in France. I once visited the gardens of a noted grower, 

 in company with a grower of less celebrity. I was surprised to see so little in these 

 grounds, and to find the owner careless as to showing what he possessed. Although 

 exceedingly polite and talkative on other subjects, he was disinclined to speak on 

 Roses. The mystery was cleared up by a letter received soon afterwards. In it were 

 words to this effect : " If you visit my establishment again, which I beg of you to do, 

 pray do not bring any French Rose-growers with you, for I cannot show them my 

 rarities and beauties." This opened my eyes ; I concluded I had not seen " the 

 lions ; " and an after visit proved this to be the case. 



Very few of the French Rose-growers who were prominent at the time the first 

 edition of this book was published remain amongst us. MM. Hardy, Vibert, Laffay, 

 Portemer, J. B. Guillot, Guerin, Sylvain, and others have long since, and MM. 

 Lacharme and Gonod more recently, departed. But we have still a numerous band 

 no less skilful and no less worthy who remain to carry on the work of their pre- 

 decessors. To mention the names of MM. P. Guillot, Bernaix, Pernet-Ducher, 



