Selecting. 83 



stated, and apply to a respectable firm, his objects may be fully attained. Let it be 

 further remarked, that this plan of dealing is also advantageous to the vendor, and he 

 compensates for the accommodation afforded him by sending a number of plants free 

 of charge, or prices the whole at a lower rate than he could have done had the amateur 

 selected them individually. The efforts of the Rose-growers are, or should be, directed 

 towards obtaining the greatest possible quantity of the finest varieties ; and, inde- 

 pendent of feeling it a duty to serve, in the best manner, those who confide in them, it 

 is their interest in two ways to supply only the choicest varieties. In the first place, 

 they have usually the largest stock of such, and then, it is these which will do them 

 the most credit, and recommend them to further transactions. It is no advantage to 

 them to send bad growers or second-rate kinds ; it is the reverse. The bad growers 

 are always most difficult to propagate and bring to a saleable condition, for which the 

 trifling addition in price does not compensate ; and it is easier to grow four or five 

 thousand of a first-rate variety than to grow a like number of plants divided into fifty 

 different kinds. We need not speak of the disadvantage the vendor suffers from the 

 sale of any but the best kinds ; and I believe he does this, even though the purchaser 

 select them himself. But beyond the advantages already mentioned as derived on 

 both sides from this method of dealing, the purchaser obtains better plants. In a 

 collection of a thousand varieties there is a greater number of first-rate kinds than the 

 most ardent cultivator of Roses would be likely to purchase at one time ; and if the 

 plants of any particular variety are small or weakly at the time the order is received, 

 they are avoided, and can be added to the collection at subsequent periods. 



Let us now proceed to make a few remarks on planting. We will suppose the beds 

 ready formed and prepared, and the order of planting arranged. There is a sufficient 

 number of plants at hand of the required height and kinds to fill them. If it be a 

 Rosarium or a series of beds we are about to plant, we may suppose that each group 

 will have a bed or beds to itself ; or if our plans are not sufficiently extensive to 

 admit of this, each bed should be planted with a combination of such as resemble each 

 other in external characters. We are speaking now of planting the Rosarium or a 

 series of beds ; in a single bed or clump it is allowable to mix the groups. 



The disposing of the plants will vary so much, according to the plan of the 

 Rosarium or the taste of the individual, and is withal so simple, that it does not 

 appear necessary to enlarge on this particular point. One thing in planting should 

 be borne in mind Never suffer the roots to lie exposed to the sun and wind, not even 

 for an hour. I fancy I hear, as I have heard some say, " Nonsense ! the Dog Rose is 

 so hardy that you may expose it for a month to all weathers, wind, frost, or sunshine, 

 without fear of injuring it." I have often heard this asserted, and have tried experi- 

 ments, which it is not necessary to record here, to convince myself of a simple fact, 

 which it may be said no one ought to have doubted. One fact I will relate. 

 In planting some French Roses, two plants of the same kind were overlooked and left 



