i8o STANDARD ROSES. 



altogether undesirable now. Is not the cry an exemplifi- 

 cation of the old fable of " The Fox and the Grapes ? " 



Nevertheless, I am free to admit that the former 

 popularity of the name, and the matchless splendour of 

 the objects, both as individuals and in groups, have led 

 people deficient in taste to place them in unsuitable 

 positions. But this surely tells no more against their 

 proper employment than the traveller's tale of the savage's 

 use of an Englishman's wardrobe does against the proper 

 employment by the owner of any special article of 

 civilised dress. 



One great use of Standard Roses in large gardens 

 is the elevated masses of colour they present to the eye 

 both in near and distant views, while in small gardens the 

 avenue of standards is often one of its prettiest features. 

 Then what is more beautiful in the conservatory than 

 standard Tea-Scented Roses ? Without following out all 

 the uses to which they may be advantageously applied, I 

 venture to predict that they who discard them from their 

 gardens now, will miss them greatly in the future, and 

 seek in vain for something that will satisfactorily fill their 

 places. With greater reason might a cry have been raised 

 against the sorts of Roses that have been, and still are, in 

 some instances grown as standards. Here, indeed, is the 

 modicum of truth in the cry which gives it a temporary 

 hold on the public mind, and renders the matter worthy of 

 investigation. 



It is beyond controversy that the natural term of life 

 of certain sorts of Roses when grown as standards is three 

 years, two years, or even one year only, as that of man is 

 three score years and ten, and that a prolongation of this 

 term carries with it all the accompaniments of old age. 

 What will the uninitiated say when they are told that 

 certain sorts of Roses seen at the Rose shows are budded 

 yearly by the exhibitors, and never cared for after they 

 have given their first year's blooms ? But it may here be 

 asked, " Why does the Rose grower bring such ephemeral 



