xiv PREFACE 



corned. And thirdly, if possible, to make a readable 

 as well as useful book : under no circumstances 

 did I aspire to tread worthily in the footsteps of 

 Dean Hole : yet (for to me too the world — even the 

 Eose world — "teems with quiet fun") I did hope to 

 make it fairly light and amusing; but details and 

 practical matter have proved so overwhelming as to 

 get a mastery of the whole. 



I have much kind assistance to acknowledge from 

 various sources. From my old friend, Mr. Benjamin 

 R. Cant, Rose-grower, Colchester, and his two sons, 

 I have had very much cordial help in many ways. 

 Mr. Frank Cant, of Braiswick Nursery, Colchester, 

 has freely given me useful information on the subject 

 of Roses under Glass (Chapter X.). Mr. W. D. 

 Prior, of Myland Nurseries, in the same metropolis 

 of Roses, has aided me in the preparation of photo- 

 graphs : and in the same neighbourhood, Mr. and 

 Mrs. Orpen, of West Bergholt, have been good 

 enough to give me opportunities of representing 

 their skill in Rose decoration. I have also received 

 help from Mr. A. Dickson, of the Royal Nur- 

 series, Newtownards, Ireland, in information kindly 

 furnished as to the raising of Roses from seed. Mr. 

 Charles Turner, of Slough, has kindly lent me a 

 photograph of one of his giant Pot Roses. 



I am indebted to Dr. Hogg, the proprietor of The 

 Journal of Horticulture, for leave to republish certain 

 matters which I have written in that paper under the 

 nom deplume of " W. R. Raillem," especially Chapter 



