PREFACH 
It mioht he thought that there was liardly room for another book 
on Roses, hut it is now eighty years since the latest edition of 
Lindley’s work was published, and during that time many new Roses 
ha\’e been discovered, and our knowledge of others has greatly increased. 
I have aimed principally at giving all the evidence I could collect 
from every available source, advancing my own opinion as rarely 
as possible, for the subject is of very great botanical complexity, 
owing partly to its inherent difficulty, and partly to the mass of 
literature, adequate and inadequate, which has accumulated during the 
many centuries in which it has been studied. I can hardly hope to 
have presented many facts not mentioned by previous writers, but I 
have at least taken great pains to ensure accuracy, and to verify and 
gi\’e references for every statement I have made. I have had the 
inestimable advantage of criticism, of help and of encouragement 
from several competent authorities, and especially from the Rev. Canon 
Ellacombe of Bitton, who has given much kindly encouragement 
throughout, and helped on many occasions; Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., 
late Keeper of the Royal Herbarium at Kew, who has been of especial 
service in drawing up the specific characters ; Professor Sargent of 
the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, U.S.A., who has read 
the whole book and given much valuable criticism and advice ; the late 
Rev. Charles Wolley-Dod of Edge Hall, Cheshire, who encouraged 
the work at its inception, and made many useful suggestions ; Major 
A. H. Wffilley-Dod, Sir George Watt, Lord Redesdale, and Lieut.- 
Colonel Prain, Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, who has 
been so good as to read the final proofs, and the work thus owes 
much to his courtesy. To all of these my grateful acknowledgments 
are due. But for the first I should never have undertaken the book 
at all ; but for the last it might never have reached the stage of 
publication. 
Ellen Willmott. 
J 2ily, 1910. 
viii 
