A Chat with our Customers. 



-•-•-•- 



Rose-culture continues to attract the same proportion of interest, that lovers of 

 flowers have bestowed on it in the past. New varieties and new classes are brought for- 

 ward each year, sorts good, bad, and indifferent. We hope to do our part, in distri- 

 buting many of the former, and ask the indulgence of our patrons for occasionally 

 helping to spread some of the others. If, sometimes, we offer for sale Roses that prove 

 in the end to have no real value, it will be found, on examination, that such Roses were 

 rarely overpraised by us, or described otherwise than warranted by the appearance of 

 the variety. A few of our customers think we do not say enough for some of their favor- 

 ites, but surely it is better to say too little than too much : besides we want our adjectives 

 to mean something. In a general way all Roses are beautiful, but there is a vast differ- 

 ence in their degree of beauty, and so one, compared with another more lovely, is ugly 

 or commonplace. When, therefore, we call a variety fragrant or beautifully formed, it 

 is because the sort described stands out above its fellows. 



We have not thought it necessary to give the parentage of the various sorts, as they 

 can be found in the list of varieties given in " The Rose," on page 198. Our descrip- 

 tions are, of necessity, brief, but we trust are all pertinent and sufficiently full. 



We have brought together in this list, all the new varieties, and all of the old ones, 

 that are sold at an extra price. All are arranged in alphabetical order so as to avoid 

 confusion in searching for any particular kind ; the letters which are prefixed, show to 

 what class each belongs. The age of the varieties is also given. 



Of most kinds we offer two sizes of plants, the large ones are dormant, one year old 

 plants, from open ground, or else (as is the case with all tender classes) are growing in 

 five inch pots. The smaller size are plants growing in three inch pots. The large size 

 can only be sent by express, the small size is sent either by express or mail. 



The Hybrid Teas of Mr. Bennett's raising do not come up to the mark set for them 

 — perhaps the mark was set too high. Excepting Beauty of Stapleford, all lack in vigor 

 of constitution and are worthless for bedding purposes. Beauty of Stapleford has a 

 violet tinge that detracts much from its color ; the blossoms are rarely of pure shade ; 

 were it not for this, it would be a valuable sort for general culture. 



Jean Sisley is utterly worthless, a poor, washed out, hide-Wund sort that never 

 gives a presentable bloom. 



Duchess of Connaught resembles La France, only differing from it to be inferior 

 These two sorts we have stricken from our list. The others of the set, Duchess of West- 

 minster, Duke of Connaught, Hon. George Bancroft, Michael Saunders, Nancy Lee, ' 

 Pearl and Viscountess Falmouth, are desirable for glass-culture, in the hands of careful 

 cultivators, — Duke of Connaught and Michael Saunders being the most valuable. 



