28 HORTICULTURE. 



What would the lovers do ? What tender confessions, hither 

 uttered by fair half-open buds and bouquets, more eloquent of pa 

 sion than thfe Nouvelle JHeloise, would have to be stammered fori 

 in miserable clumsy words! How many doubtful suits would I 

 lost — ^how many bashful hearts would never venture — ^how mai 

 rash and reckless adventurers would be shipwrecked,'if the tend 

 and expressive language of the rose were all suddenly lost ar 

 blotted out ! What could we place in the hands of childhood ■ 

 mirror back its innocent expression so truly? What blosson 

 could bloom on the breast of the youthful beauty so typical of tl 

 infinity of hope and sweet thoughts, that lie folded up in her own heai 

 as fair young rose-buds ? What wreath could so lovingly enciro 

 the head of the fair young bride as that of white roses, full of puril 

 and grace ? And, last of all, what blossom, so expressive of humj 

 affeolions, could we find at the bier to take the place of the ros( 

 the rose, sacred to this purpose for so many ages, and with so mar 

 nations, 



"teoause its breath 



Is rich beyond the rest ; and when it dies 

 It doth bequeath a charm to sweeten death." 



Baert Cornwall. 



The rose is not only infinite in its forms, hues, types, and ass 

 ciations, but it deserves an infinite number of adfnirers. This is tl 

 explanation of our desire to be eloquent in its behalf. There ar 

 unfortunately, some persons who, however lovely, beautiful, or pe 

 feet a thing may be in itself will never raise their eyes to loc 

 at it, or open their hearts to admire it, unless it is incessantly talke 

 about. 



We have always observed, however, that the great difficult 

 with those who like to talk about fruits and flowers is, when oni 

 talking, to stop. There is no doubt whatever, that we might go o 

 therefore, and fill this whole number with roses, rosariums, rosarie 

 and rose-water, but that some of our western readers, who are loo! 

 ing for us to give them a cure for the pear-bHght, might cry out- 

 " a blight on your roses ! " We must, therefore, grow more systemat 

 and considerate in our remarks. 



