354 
THE FLORIST. 
nation of colour, the delicate sense of texture, as their fair fingers 
pass through them the “ loves of silks ” which the obsequious shopman 
hands out to them—and I doubt not have marvelled at the wonderful 
reasons they have for rejecting each proffered piece ; this is so like 
one they have, that is flimsy, and this won’t keep its colour—a fourth 
is decidedly dull—a fifth is exactly like Miss So-and-so’s ; and you 
have perhaps wondered at the strange and minute differences which 
their eye detects, where your’s can see only all alike. Now, my good 
friend, I sometimes think they might laugh at us florists, when we deal 
with florists’ flowers. Is there not here the same process going on ?— 
this is so like what we have —that flimsy, this, bad in colour, &c., &c. 
And do we not, alas, often mourn at some Goth who pronounces them 
all alike, and wonders where we can see the difference ? and when one 
looks into some Rose Catalogues, the compilers of which boast of 2000 
sorts, and there find “ rosy crimson, crimson, brilliant crimson, purplish 
crimson, light vivid crimson, bright fiery crimson, &c. &c.,” I think we 
shall be more inclined to feel grateful to those Rose-growers who, like 
Mr. Rivers, do not confound us with an “ embarras des richesses,” but 
give a select list, from which the uninitiated may cull and the connoisseur 
find the choicest sorts he can have. Like everybody, he is fallible, but 
on the whole his catalogue is the safest guide we have. Having.grown 
Roses for some years, and having seen them under the hands of others, 
I shall, I hope, be able to be of some little service in giving a list of 
sorts—first observing that there are two points which, if a Rose be not 
possessed of, I cannot think a small grower is right in retaining it, viz., 
good growth and freedom of opening. There are some sorts which are, 
I know, very beautiful; but what is the use of having a scrubby thing 
which gives a bloom now and then, or a flower that most pertinaciously 
refuses to disclose its beauties, and dies with over modesty! 
I shall, then, take first the summer Roses; and second, the 
autumnal ones. 
1. Summer Roses. —Mr. Rivers tells us these will soon be discarded. 
I question it. Where, as yet, have we anything to equal Paul Ricaut 
in colour or Coupe d’Hebe in shape? And until we have I would 
recommend the old proverb, “ Never throw away dirty water until you 
get clean.” Who could reject Boula de Nanteuil or Blairii No. 2 ? 
The few that I grow are the following;— 
1. Crested Provence 
2. Celina, Moss 
3. Lanei, do. 
4. Prolific, do. 
5. White Bath 
6. Boule de Nanteuil 
7. Blairi No. 2 
8. Ch4n4doI6 
9. Brennus 
10. Paul Ricaut 
11. Coupe d’Hebe 
12. Persian Yellow 
1.3. Harrisoni 
I do not give any descriptions of these, for Mr. Rivers’ are very accu¬ 
rate, and have only to observe that the White Bath is a very difficult 
Rose to keep ; yet I saw it once in Ireland growing on its own roots as 
vigorously as the common Moss; there must have been something in 
the soil and situation peculiarly suited to it, for I never saw it so before 
or since. Unquestionably, however, the great proportion of Roses 
grown are— 
II. The Autumn-blooming ones. —Many, I fear, have been misled 
