The History of the Rose. 27 



and the effect magical. " Here," says an eminent cultivator with whom I was 

 privileged to converse in the olden time, " I first saw the Rose Ruga, which was 

 then recently introduced ; and I remarked to Mr Murdoch, who. was gardener there, 

 that it was a hybrid of the Tea-scented. It was beautifully in bloom, and struck me 

 at the time as a gem of the first water. I had not at this time met with any of the 

 Sempervirens Roses, the first of which, the ALBA PLENA, I saw in flower soon after- 

 wards on a wall at Dropmore, the seat of Lady Grenville." 



The next collection which demands our notice was at Broxbournebury, the seat 

 of H. Smith Bosanquet, Esq., where there is at the present time a great number of 

 very fine specimens. 



In addition to the above, there were, later on, superior collections of Roses at the 

 following places : Poles, near Ware, the seat of E. S. Hanbury, Esq. ; High Trees, 

 Redhill, the seat of W. B. Waterlow, Esq. ; Bayfordbury, near Hertford, the seat of 

 W. R. Baker, Esq. ; Danesbury, near Welwyn, the seat of A. M. Blake, Esq. ; 

 Stockwood, Luton, the seat of J. S. Crawley, Esq. ; Hatfield, Herts, the seat of the 

 Marquis of Salisbury ; Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard, the seat of the Earl of Rosebery ; 

 and this list might be considerably extended. It might have been foretold that the 

 rare beauties which these and other gardens contained whether viewed on the plants 

 arrayed in the simple loveliness of nature, or when dressed for the tables of the Floral 

 Fetes would captivate all lovers of flowers and spread a taste for their cultivation. 

 And such was really the case. As they became known their beauty was appreciated 

 and their possession was coveted and prized. Florists and amateurs vied with each 

 other in the cultivation of their favourites, each desirous of producing them in the 

 most perfect state. Their characters and capabilities were thus fairly developed ; 

 improvement followed on improvement ; and they soon became universally popular. 

 And why? Shall Anacreon answer? " PoSov u (p&ptffrov uvQav " The Rose is the 

 most beautiful of flowers." 



