172 FOURTH NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW 
those of chance. With the re-discoA'ery of the so-caUed ^Mendel's laws in 1900, 
new light was shed on heredity. Since that time hybridists have conducted 
their work on a more scientific basis, and wonderful results have been attained 
with some species of plants. Corn, wheat, tomatoes, and other so-called eco- 
nomic crops have been largely experimented with, and the results to the con- 
suming world have been beneficial in the extreme. 
Less systematic breeding has, however, been done with ornamental plants, 
with which, therefore, there seems a vast field for investigation and experimenta- 
tion. 
There ne^•er was a greater need for breeding work with roses than at the 
present time. People are demanding novelties in all lines of florists' flowers, 
but especially is there a demand for unusual varieties of roses. This is especi- 
ally true regarding those varieties gro"v\Ti under glass, or the "forcing" varieties. 
In this field, the Bride and Bridesmaid held for many years a dominant place; 
but with the coming of KiUarney in its many colors, the older varieties were no 
longer grown. There is probably no more popular rose today than Ophelia; 
yet other varieties are close competitors, and newer types are placed on the 
market each year. The present popularity of the small cluster roses, like Cecile 
Brimner, George Elgar and Baby Tausenschon, shows a changed public opinion 
and the Teas and Hybrid Teas no longer hold non-competitive places in com- 
mercial gro-^ing. 
]Many men have realized the need of systematic breeding in the rose family, 
but few have had the perseverance and determination necessary to get results. 
A few men, however, have given us some desirable varieties of roses, and to 
these men present-day rosarians owe much. There is a demand for species of 
roses adapted to American conditions, and these must necessarily be American- 
bred. The soil and climatic conditions in European coimtries are quite differ- 
ent from those in America, wherefore many of the species originated in Europe 
are imsuited for use in this countr}'. We need strains of American roses which 
correspond to the tj^e of the American carnation. 
More breeding work has been done in America on varieties of hardy roses 
than on the types grown under glass. Rosa Wichnraiana and Rosa rugosa 
have, within recent years, furnished a starting-point for breeding experiments 
which have been a pronoimced success. There is still a demand for improved 
^•arieties in these groups, but there is even a greater demand for improvement 
in those varieties which are "forced'" under glass. 
Breeders of roses certainly have many difficulties to solve. The family is 
a large one, and contains many species. Among these species there already 
exists a large number of hybrids, and the blood is so mixed that it is difficult 
to begin with pure blood of any particular species. 
The science of genetics is based on heredity, and while environment and 
training influence the development of an indi\ddual, heritage or "blood" is 
largely responsible for the traits of character most prominent. Early studies 
