On the Choice and Arrangement of Varieties. 79 



CHAPTER VI. 



On the Choice and Arrangement of Varieties, and 

 Remarks on Planting. 



HAVING formed the Rosarium, it may be well, before proceeding further, to ask 

 ourselves this question Are the soil and locality sufficiently favourable to 

 admit of the successful cultivation of all kinds indiscriminately ? If so we are indeed 

 fortunate, for variation in character is certainly desirable, and each group possesses 

 some particular feature to recommend it. There are the Noisette and Tea-scented, 

 justly celebrated for their fragrance. The Hybrid Perpetual and Hybrids of the 

 Chinese have a strong claim on account of their finely-shaped flowers and great vari- 

 ation in colour, besides which, they are the hardiest of Roses, thriving in less favour- 

 able situations than most others. Then there are the Chinese, remarkable for great 

 regularity of growth, and whose flowers are produced in gay profusion in spring, 

 summer, and autumn, and which only cease to blow when the chill breath of winter 

 strikes them, heralding the approach of the season of repose. In addition to these 

 there are the Austrian, the Provence, the Moss, the Damask, the Alba, and the Bour- 

 bon the latter blooming almost as constantly and as long as the Chinese and many 

 other groups as interesting if not so extensive or so generally known. Can we, in 

 planting the Rosarium, wholly dispense with any group ? We think not. To render 

 the design complete a few varieties from each should be chosen. The cultivator may 

 have his favourite groups, and introduce them in greater quantity, but if the soil and 

 situation are good he should not wholly exclude any. Formerly the Florists' artificial 

 standard of a good Rose was admitted as sufficient for the introduction of a new 

 variety, and this kept Roses out of the bedding lists in general gardening, but now 

 constitution, continuous flowering, and attractive habit of growth presents a wider 

 claim, and with these in the ascendant the Rose becomes pre-eminent for the purposes 

 of general decoration. 



We now intend to note the number of varieties we should draw from each group 

 were we about to plant a Rosarium for ourselves ; this, we believe, will prove useful to 



