THE LITERATURE OF THE ROSE. 



35 



there is little of importance to chronicle until Rivers published in 1837 

 the first edition of his Rose Amateur's Guide, a. work which formed an 

 excellent handbook or guide to the varieties in cultivation at the time 

 it was issued, and which contains much cultural information that will 

 remain true for all time. From the high position occupied by its 

 author as a practical horticulturist this work at once commanded 

 the attention it deserved, and may be regarded as a pioneer of the 

 modern type of handbook on the subject. Of more comprehensive 

 scope and wider scientific design was The Rose Garden, by Wm. Paul, 

 the first edition of which appeared in 1848. This work is arranged in 

 two divisions, the first division including chapters on the History of 

 the Rose, the Formation of the Rosarium, and the various practices of 

 cultivation, including the principles of hybridization and cross-breeding 

 with a view to the raising of new varieties from seed, whilst the second 

 division embraces a natural arrangement of above 2000 varieties 

 cultivated in gardens, accurately described from close personal observa- 

 tion. The coloured plates and illustrations in the text added much 

 to the value of the book, the success of which at the time of its first 

 appearance was phenomenal, translations speedily appearing in more 

 than one European language. As a model of close reasoning applied 

 to practice the cultural portion of The Rose Garden can never be super- 

 seded, whilst the descriptive portion has been revised and supple- 

 mented in subsequent editions in order to include the newer varieties 

 of importance that are being yearly added to collections : the tenth 

 edition of this book is now with us. Another interesting work that 

 appeared about this time (1850 to 1853) is Curtis' Beauties of the Roses, 

 consisting of thirty-six artistically executed coloured plates of garden 

 varieties with descriptive notes. 



THIRD PERIOD. 



If we experience a difficulty in adequately mastering and systema- 

 tizing the literature of the Rose that appeared during the second 

 period of our review, this is still more the case in the third period, 

 consisting of sixty years, from the middle of the nineteenth century 

 to the present time. The rapid expansion that has taken place in 

 the cultivation of the flower in all civilized countries, the introduc- 

 tion of several important species and the remarkable multiplication of 

 garden varieties have been fully reflected in the mass of literature that 

 has appeared on the subject, especially of late years, and of cultural 

 works in particular we have a formidable and almost bewildering 

 array. I trust therefore that I shall not be supposed to be wanting 

 in appreciation of any individual efforts if the magnitude of the task 

 renders it impossible for me to make specific mention of them all. 



As authorities on the botany of the Rose during the time in question 

 the names of T. Moore, J. G. Baker, Deseglise, Wolley Dod, and 

 Viviand-Morel are familiar to us as a few out of many who have 

 given us in writing the concrete results of their labours, and another 

 name that will readily occur to us is that of the late accomplished 



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