THE ROSE GARDENS OF HERTFORDSHIRE. 59 



and a half, to the seat of Charles S. Chauncey, Esq., 

 called Dane End, near Munden. The Dog-Rose and Rosa 

 arvensis abounded in the hedges, and if we were not de- 

 ceived by the pace at which we were travelling, the sweet 

 briar also showed itself occasionally. Many fair flowerets 

 studded the wayside, and more than once did we regret 

 the want of leisure to cull a bouquet of these lovely gems. 

 But it was impossible. The sun was already high above 

 our head, and the time to which we wished to limit our 

 morning rambles almost expired. We reached the desired 

 spot, and immediately on entering were dazzled with the 

 sight of a bed of mixed Roses, dwarf standards, beneath 

 which glittered " the lovely Eschscholtzia covering the 

 ground as with a sheet of burnished gold. Whichever 

 way we turned masses of flowers met our view. Standing 

 in the heart of an agricultural district, which we had just 

 quitted, and where every idle plant (excepting those by 

 the wayside) was doomed to quick and sure destruction, 

 the change was the more striking. We had for some 

 time been passing farm lands, which we could not but 

 admire for their freedom from wild flowers ; now we were 

 suddenly in the midst of a beautiful garden, appearing like 

 an oasis in a desert. The mansion stands some little dis- 

 tance from the road on gently rising lawn ground. In 

 front and near to the road is a walk describing a semi- 

 circle. On the lawn side of the walk beds of Roses of 

 graceful forms follow the margin, a mere strip of the lawn 

 intervening. There is in most cases a bed of a sort, and 

 they are principally Autumnals. We noticed especially as 

 suited for this purpose Hybrid Perpetual: La Reine, 

 William Jesse, Madame Lafifay, and Mrs Elliot. Chinese: 

 White, Cramoisie superieure, Gloire des Rosomanes. Bour- 

 bon : Bouquet de Flore. All these are evidently excellent 

 kinds for bedding. On the opposite side of the walk is a 

 herbaceous border about three yards wide ; it contains a 

 very good collection of herbaceous plants, and the most 

 showy kinds, such as Sweet Williams, Antirrhinums, 



