122 
THE FLORIST. 
And this brings me to the consideration of a fact which, in many 
cases, effectually prevents unanimity among Rose growers, as to the 
merits of individual flowers—namely, that not only do these vary in 
different counties, and in gardens within a few miles of each other, 
but in the same garden continually, according to the change of weather 
or of treatment. I have alluded to this in the November number of 
the Florist, and I would now name by way of illustration such Roses as 
Baronne Hallez, Louise Peyronny, and Prince Leon, three noble Roses, 
but in my garden (Nottinghamshire) very variable and uncertain. 
The Rose General Jacqueminot, H. P., whose merits have been recently 
discussed in the Chronicle may be cited as another example; and I 
have seen it so much more beautiful in the gardens of a friend in 
Warwickshire, than on my own trees, that I shall not be happy until, by 
improved cultivation, I bring out the flower in its perfection. So that it 
may sometimes be said of disputants about Roses, as of the travellers 
and the cameleon, “ you both are right and both are wrong”—you see 
the shield from different sides thereof. And I would exhort the one 
who has the flower in its beauty, thankfully to enjoy and maintain its 
glory; the other to go home and improve it. Never give up a good 
Rose, until you have used all means to do justice to it. If it will not 
succeed with you “ worked,” try it on its own roots. Give it a sunny 
corner. Note its habit and endeavour to humour it. Careful and 
patient love is as necessary to success in Rose growing as in other pur¬ 
suits, and brings its reward at last. We amateurs are but too apt to 
decry and denounce a Rose, simply because we don’t know how to grow 
it. I remember the time, when a baby in floriculture, I first “ began” 
(as mamas say) “ to take notice,” that I uprooted Blairii, No. 2 from 
my garden because I could not realise her lovely flowers. How was it 
likely, when every March I hacked off her beautiful arms at the 
shoulder, arid cut off her hair like a convict’s ? 
But it is high time for me to conclude, for the present, at all events, 
my rambling remarks about Roses ; and I will do so with a suggestion 
to Rose growers—amateurs and professionals :—why should we not have, 
near some central station (such as Rugby) A Grand National Rose 
Show ?—A feast of Roses, at which the whole brotherhood might meet 
in love and unity, to drink in prize cups of silver, “ Success to the Queen 
of Flowers.” 
S. R. H. 
LIST OF PLANTS IN BLOOM IN MARCH, FOR 
- DECORATIVE PURPOSES. 
For the information of those of our readers who have to keep up a 
large stock of plants in bloom in winter and spring, we intend giving 
each month a list of plants actually in bloom, or remarkable for fine 
foliage, from places where they are grown extensively for decorating 
the drawing-room, conservatory, show house, &c. We commence this 
month with a list furnished us by Mr. Foggo, of Shrubland Park, and 
