Ctoo (T.avtini jfaborftes. 187 



the confines of a few pages. The only way to 

 do it justice is to begin at the beginning and 

 treat it in all its phases of origin, history, culture, 

 form, color, and fragrance. I imagine it would 

 be delightful to study roses for a decade and 

 then write a book. Even the subject of suitable 

 manures would lose its taint if considered with 

 reference to the rose. The species alone number 

 upward of a hundred; the varieties with their 

 briefest possible descriptions would fill a ponder- 

 ous folio. Of teas alone there are several thou- 

 sands ; of hybrid perpetuals or remontants there 

 is almost as great a multitude as the daffodils 

 Wordsworth saw dancing by the shore of Ulls- 

 water. An astronomer it would require to 

 count them ; a Symonds to depict their colors. 

 The rose, like the lily, will not grow itself, not- 

 withstanding its hardy species are far less fas- 

 tidious with regard to soil and climate. As the 

 price of its beauty it requires care, if not " eter- 

 nal vigilance." It is like a fascinating woman 

 whom every one admires and who graciously sub- 

 mits to the attentions of all, to her own annoy- 

 ance and discomfort. Thus, Madame de Coigny, 

 becoming tired of the attentions bestowed upon 

 her, one day had a signet engraved of a rose 

 besieged by insects, with the motto 

 This it is to be a Rose. 



