Flowers and Gardens 



and with a colour often scarce less ex- 

 quisite, which sinks into the deep central 

 dimple with a glowing blush, like a 

 sunset into the clouds. Then turn to 

 the Moss Rose, and see how deliciously 

 the opening tints of the bud, like the 

 face of an awakening beauty, look forth 

 from their nest of thick green viscous 

 moss. It would be difficult to adduce better 

 instances of what cultivation can achieve. 

 But let us contrast these with the Dog- 

 Rose. In the first place, we find that 

 in the garden plants the long arched 

 shoots have disappeared, which stretch 

 high over the hedge, or, descending, 

 trail down their fragrant burden into 

 the shady lanes below, within easy reach 

 of every passer-by. Beautiful are they, 

 close at hand ! Beautiful in the distance 

 when the hedges are everywhere breaking 

 forth into the creamy foam of elder 

 blossom, picked out with these showery 

 touches of pink ! Now such a free dis- 

 play of the general form of the Rose is 

 evidently impossible in a garden. The 

 plant must be cut down to the shape of 

 the compacter standard, or else be dis- 

 posed upon trellis- work. In either case 

 its freedom is restrained, and even the 

 freedom of trellis-work is incompatible 



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