Flowers and Gardens 



beauty. And observe what deep mean- 

 ing they throw into the aspect of the 

 Rose, giving it that expression of peace- 

 ful dreamy rest, something of which, 

 though varied in a hundred ways, is 

 common in blossoms where the stamens 

 are numerous, as, for instance, we may 

 often discern it in the Rock Rose and 

 Ranunculaceous orders. Now I have 

 here made a contrast the most unfavour- 

 able that could be thought of for my pur- 

 pose. I have taken one of the gardener's 

 noblest flowers, which has a dignity of 

 form united with a significance of ex- 

 pression, such as cannot be met with 

 in any other double flower, and yet I 

 think it must be felt that in the garden 

 plant a very great deal has been lost, 

 and furthermore that this loss is of im- 

 mense importance.^ 



' The finest Dog-Roses — I mean those which are the 

 deepest pink — in many respects far surpass in colour the 

 double Garden Roses. In the first place, their blush is 

 almost unrivalled in the maiden softness of its glow. 

 Then observe through what a wide range of harmonies 

 we are led — outermost you see this sweet glowing pink, 

 then a circle which is almost white, then the rich orange 

 of the stamens, and finally a green disc in the centre, all 

 these hues melting into and supporting each other with a 

 softness and beauty indescribable. Can we meet with 

 anything like this in the Garden Roses ? But the force 

 of the effect does not depend upon colour alone. If you 

 look at the Dog-Rose with half-closed eyes, and fancy 

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