THE ROSE. THE QUEEN OF FLOWERS. 
273 
heat a good deal ; and when it again declines, 
serve the back the same way, and eventually, 
the two ends also. By these means, the heat 
may be revived and kept up for a consider- 
able time ; because the same thing may be 
repeated two or three times over, so long as 
the principal mass of dung be not absolutely 
saturated ; but a good deal of this may be 
taken out by undermining small portions at a 
time and tucking in hot dung in the place 
made vacant. However, unless it be for 
Melons or Cucumbers actually growing in 
the soil, it is better, after the first linings all 
round, to make up fresh beds to succeed. It 
is only in cases where the plants are actually 
immovable, that we must spend a good deal 
of time and trouble to renew and retain heat ; 
for, if the subjects be in pots, it is far easier to 
make new beds and remove the plants than 
to keep up the heat of old ones. 
THE ROSE ; THE QUEEN OF FLOWERS. 
As flowers, to permanently hold the rank in 
which they are placed, must possess properties 
that will be appreciated by the public, we are 
sibout to justify the popular title given to the 
Rose, by showing that it comprises in itself a 
greater share of valuable qualities than any 
other flower in cultivation. As a florist's 
flower it ought to possess sundry features, 
Which perhaps some of the common observers 
would hardly esteem in detail, though they 
would instantly decide in their favour from 
the effect ou the bloom as a whole. Not one 
of the properties laid down by the florist is 
altogether useless even to the least observing 
of the public. Thus, the thickness of a petal 
(which unless the flower be handled would 
47 
hardly be noticed by one who was not a 
florist) causes a Rose to last a very long time 
in perfection, while the thin flimsy petalled 
Roses, however beautiful in colour, scarcely 
bear plucking when in full bloom, without 
dropping to pieces. But let us look to the 
qualities of the Rose. Its beauty, to begin 
with, will hardly be questioned ; for it is uni- 
versally admired by all classes, all eyes, from 
the infant to the aged. Its beauty, too, is so 
lasting: from the instant the bud buists and 
shows the colour of the flower, . until the 
last stage of full-bloom, it is beautiful ; and 
whether it be on a sprig separated from the 
plant, on the graceful standard tree, or the 
bushy shrub ; and whether alone amidst the 
green foliage, or among a thousand others, it 
is still beautiful. Its fragrance, conspicuous 
among a thousand other flowers, is pure ; 
as the lonely occupant of a favourite vase, 
is grateful and lasting ; and when the flower 
is in ruins that fragrance remains. Do we 
require some graceful plant to cover the 
lattice of a window ; give us the Rose. Do 
we require something to conceal the whole 
front of a house ; let it be the Rose. Do we 
desire flowers of golden yellow, a snowy white, 
a blush, a pink, a crimson, a deep maroon ; it 
must be the Rose. If we desire to see flower- 
ing shrubs ; let the best be a Rose. "Would a 
few standard trees look well as we approach 
the house? nothing so good as a Rose. Must 
we have something sparkling, bold, brilliant ? 
we must have the Rose. Do we require 
something delicate, weeping, or creeping? still 
it may be found among the endless varieties 
of the Rose. The Rose-garden is never out 
of bloom ; from the earliest spring to the latest 
autumn, every day produces Roses ; and no 
plant so obedient to the gardener, if he desires 
to produce Roses through the dreary days of 
winter itself. Let every body then, with even 
a small garden, attend to the Rose ; for it will 
repay us for our care, and give us its sweets 
even after death. Those who live too near 
a metropolis of smoke, and densely-built 
streets, may find some difficulty ; but there 
are more plants killed by neglect than smoke, 
even in the narrow streets of London. Those 
who take care that a garden is neither too wet 
nor too dry, and that a soil is neither too rich 
nor too poor, will do a good deal towards 
growing the Rose successfully ; and the rest 
must be left to air, and situation, and good 
management. The Rose luxuriates in strong 
ground and open air ; but some allowance 
is to be made for the nature of the root : and 
all situations are not equally good for all 
kinds. For instance, the common briar or 
Dog-rose will grow anywhere ; it flourishes 
even among the roots of the quickset-hedge, 
