NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 



287 



NOTES ON DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 

 By the Rev. W. Wilks, Sec. R.H.S. 



The preceding tables of Statistical Returns made at the 

 Conference will be of the greatest possible interest and value to 

 thoroughgoing Rosarians, both amateurs and professionals. 

 They will positively revel in comparing one particular grower's 

 selection with that of another grower as eminent ; they will 

 delight in making special combinations and permutations, and 

 will inwardly digest the result ; they will give all due weight to 

 aspect, climate, and soil. To such experts I must apologise for 

 any little mistakes which may have crept into what, if it has 

 been a labour of love, has been by no means an easy labour — 

 the digesting, tabulating, and abbreviating the mass of statistics 

 so kindly sent in. 



Nomenclature. — Beyond the mere clerical work, the chief 

 difficulty has arisen from varying nomenclature, and that not 

 only with regard to synonyms, but also in regard to the very 

 varied spelling of names. Great confusion is evidently caused 

 by that most reprehensible practice of raisers of new sorts, in 

 giving to their offspring names almost identical with others 

 already existing. For example, Mme. Eugene Verdier (H.P.) 

 and Mile. Eugenie Verdier, and then repeating Mme. Eugene 

 Verdier again as a Tea ! The result of this kind of naming is 

 that " Madame " and " Mademoiselle " become completely mixed. 

 Sometimes one is entered when the other is evidently meant, 

 and more often we get a Hybrid form of name, in either 

 " Madame Eugene V." or " Mademoiselle Eugenie V.," both 

 Hybrid names appearing also as Teas ! Other examples will at 

 once suggest themselves, e.g., Hippolyte Jamain and Mme. 

 Hippolyte Jamain (H.P.), and Mme. Hippolyte Jamain (Tea) ; 

 Jules Margottin and Mme. Jules Margottin and Mme. 

 Margottin ; Mme. Ducher and Marie Ducher and Jean Ducher ; 

 Mme. Scipion Cochet (H.P.) and Mme. Scipion Cochet (Tea) ; 

 Princess of Wales (H.P.) and Princess of Wales (Tea) ; Prosper 

 Laugier and Mme. Prosper Laugier ; Julius Finger and Jules 

 Finger; Jules Chretien, an old worthless pink H. P., and Jules 

 Chretien H.P. (Schwartz, 1878), a handsome dark one ; 



N 



