SELECTION 



149 



Mr. Blair of Stamford Hill, near London. No. i, though 

 once eulogised (see Sweet's 'British Flower-Garden.' vol. iv. 

 p. 405) as ' this splendid Rose/ is worthless ; but No. 2, 

 with its large globular flowers, the petals deepening from 

 a most delicate flesh-colour without to a deep rosy blush 

 within, is a gem of purest ray serene. A bloom of it, cut 

 from the tree before it was fully expanded, in the inter- 

 mediate state between a bud and a Rose, and tastefully 

 placed with a frond of Adiantum (Cuneatum, Sanctae 

 Catherinae, Farleyense, or Tenerum) in her back hair — 

 I beg pardon, her back snakes — would make even a Fury 

 good-looking. It belongs to the Hybrid China family, 

 as does 



Brenmcs, far more happy as a Climbing Rose than when, 

 scaling with his Gauls the Tarpeian rock, he woke up 

 the geese who woke up the Romans to repel him head- 

 long, and to save their capital. It is a most free-growing, 

 free-bloom.ing variety, with large deep carmine flowers. 



Charles Lawson^ a hybrid from the Isle de Bourbon Rose, 

 makes a noble specimen, producing magnificent blooms 

 of a bright glowing pink abundantly in all seasons. This 

 glorious Rose well deserves all those adjectives expressive 

 of beauty which, I begin to fear, my readers will regard 

 as wearisome and vain repetitions. I can only plead 

 that the epithets are true, and cry 'Excuse tautology!' 

 as I once heard a parrot scream for the best part of a 

 sunimer's day. 



ChSnedole^ Hybrid China, is a very attractive garden Rose. 

 Not 'an article which will bear the closest inspection' of 

 anatomical eyes, but adding greatly to the general effect of 

 the Rosarium with its vivid crimson flowers. 



Coupe (VHebe^ Hybrid Bourbon, is perhaps a size smaller than 

 we should have expected Hebe's cup to be, considering 

 the requirements of such inflammatory personages as 

 Jupiter, Mars, and Bacchus. Probably, when the gods 



