FOURTH NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW ija 
love for and the knowledge of roses. He will spur on the commercial grower 
to bring his productions nearer perfection. The amateur grower is certain to 
influence the cut-flower grower to try more varieties, and to try in the green- 
house those varieties that are doing well in the garden. There are probably 
many garden varieties of roses in existence today which could be to advantage 
forced under glass, if brought to the attention of the commercial grower. 
Commercially, there are too few varieties being forced. The more varie- 
ties we have, the more opportunity there is of placing them before the public. 
How many books would be sold if there were but four or five titles available? 
So it is with roses — the fewer varieties, the fewer sales. People get tired of one 
thing; they want variety; they call for something new. So to the commercial 
man I propose that he broaden out in work with the amateur to increase the 
number of good roses grown and forced; and the selling field will correspond- 
ingly expand. 
The amateur's work, to my mind, is far more fascinating than is the com- 
mercial end. My experience as an amateur in garden roses is very small, but 
it has been a source of great pleasure and recreation to me. Looking around 
among my friends, both amateurs and professionals, I can see the interest in 
garden roses growing. The commercial rosarian is now realizing that the 
garden rose is and will be a tremendous factor in the future of the rose in 
America. 
The American Rose Society, in establishing test-gardens in various parts 
of the United States is thus working out a feature that will become a most 
valuable and far-reaching asset to rose-growing. These test-gardens are now 
firmly established in Washington, in Hartford, at Cornell University (Ithaca, 
N. Y.), and in Minneapolis. 
A committee has been appointed to look after and take charge of each 
garden. The plan is to establish in these test-gardens at least five plants of a 
kind, in the case of Teas, and two of a kind, in the case of Climbers, of every 
known variety that can be obtained, not only from this country, but from for- 
eign countries as well. Accurate records are to be kept as to how they flourish, 
the climatic conditions, the amount of bloom, and whatever statistics as to tem- 
perature, soil, etc., that may be deemed necessary by the committees in charge. 
Anyone contemplating the growing of a certain variety — for instance, in 
the same climate as Washington — might refer to the appropriate test-garden 
reports, and see how that variety had behaved — whether it was hardy, whether 
it was able to stand the hot summer, and so on. These records as summarized 
each year in this Annual, will become invaluable. 
It has been my pleasure to go over three of the four test-gardens already 
established, thus enjoying some of the most pleasant days of my experience, and 
learning more about roses than one would be able to pick up in a month of 
ordinary inspection. I believe I am safe in saying that everyone who visits 
these test-gardens feels that the time has been well spent. 
