INTRODUCTION 



THIS little book has been published in response to numerous 

 requests for an uptodate work on commercial Rose cul- 

 ture. It will not delve into the ancient history of the Rose or 

 indulge in long descriptions and classifications of varieties. 

 These points have been well covered by previous writers. The 

 author will endeavor to point out to the beginner, the small 

 grower, or the florist with a retail trade, who grows a few 

 Roses with his general stock, the best way to be successful in 

 growing good Roses under glass and outdoors. There is hard 

 work in quantity and much expense in modern Rose growing, 

 but the pleasure and profit derived from the same afford ample 

 compensation. 



The magnitude of the business, as compared with its status 

 of twenty-five years ago, is surprising. Parsons, in his book on 

 the Rose, published in 1881, on page 71, speaking of the ex- 

 travagance of Nero in spending $100,000 for Roses for one 

 feast, says: "It would be no easy matter, even at the present 

 period of abundant cultivation of Roses, to obtain from all 

 the nurseries of England, France and America together, Roses 

 sufficient to amount to so large a sum." Compare these words 

 with present day facts, when there are probably as many Roses 

 handled in any one of our largest cities, at every holiday, as 

 were ever seen by Nero at any of his feasts ! 



The question was asked me, a few months ago, "Why is 

 Rose growing in the hands of a few men, while Carnations 

 are tried and grown (often successfully) by every beginner in 

 the florist's business?" The reply generally given to this ques- 

 tion is that Roses require more care, are more liable to diseases 

 and pests likely to cause failure, that a night man must be kept 

 by the Rose grower, and that the general expense is such as 

 to bar out the man of limited means. While this may be partly 



