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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



from ray predecessors in this line in order to appear original, but 

 as little as possible, that I might not add to the perplexities 

 already existing from the too frequent practice of changing names. 



The classification which I haYe endeaYoured to work out 

 has been largely influenced by the desire to bring into closest 

 proximity those garden Yarieties which haYe the greatest external 

 resemblance in foliage and floiuers, so that the whole may be 

 readily grasped and most adYantageously dealt with by the prac- 

 tical mind in the decoration of our gardens and our homes. 



I do not for a moment suppose that any classification would 

 meet with uniYersal concurrence. Probably no two persons. 

 eYen if possessing equal knowledge of the subject, would agree to 

 follow precisely the same lines. Should they agree at the outset 

 as to the primary objects to be attained, they would almost surely 

 attach different degrees of weight to the numerous features they 

 must study and deal with, and on a summing up of the Yarious 

 details they would Yery likely arrive at different conclusions. 



This Yiew of the subject does not, however, render the 

 attempt to grapple with it the less desirable, and howeYer 

 inadequate for its solution may be the single ray of light thrown 

 upon it by any one indiYidual, the desired goal may be clearly 

 indicated and attained under the additional and converging rays 

 of an intellectual discussion. 



I propose to arrange all garden roses under two primary 

 divisions. 



Division I. — Summer Eoses. 

 Division II. — Autumnal Eoses. 



The summer kinds bloom in June and July only, but the 

 autumnal flower both in June and July, and some of them 

 throughout the autumnal months. Perhaps there is no 

 great difference in the number of flowers produced, plant for 

 plant, between given individuals of these two primary divisions. 

 The summer kinds produce larger quantities of flowers in the 

 summer, and are consequently more gorgeous at that season ; 

 the autunmals flower then more sparingly, and some of them 

 give forth a second crop of flowers at a later period, while others 

 of them continue putting forth driblets of flowers throughout 

 the autumnal months. TJiis, I think, may be stated as the 

 actual difference between the varieties comprising our two primary 



