NOVEMBER. 
333 
RELATING TO ROSES. 
I SHOULD apologise for writing so soon another article relative to 
roses, were it not the fact that nothing interests the public gene¬ 
rally so much as the premier flower of England. If a Floricul- 
tural Editor were to exclude rose information, or only publish it 
sparingly, or infrequently, a great number of persons, who now 
take it in, would soon give it up; the reason is, that while one 
man here or there takes an interest, either in tulips, pansies, 
hollyhocks, dahlias, pelargoniums, and such like, all feel an in¬ 
terest in and admire the National flower. When a periodical 
comes out without a word about roses, how quickly does the dis¬ 
appointed reader put it down again. This, however, is hardly 
fair, because we ought to feel an interest in that which interests 
others, and rejoice to see the diverse noble works of God, “made 
in wisdom,” highly cultivated and written about. Still, it cannot 
be denied that the British public, whether they cultivate roses or 
not, are always greatly pleased to see them, read about them, and 
possess them. At all the shows that I have attended the last few 
years, I have always been struck with the earnest petitions of all 
classes, especially the lower and middle classes, for a few withered 
blooms at the close of the Exhibition. After the National Rose 
Show, I was loudly entreated at the Waterloo Station, by persons 
who were going by the mail train, to give them a rose or two, to 
which, of course, I acceded. In my passage to Reading, persons 
learning from my fugleman “ Will” that my boxes contained roses, 
begged me to open them, and let them have a view; again, though 
the weather was torrid and adverse to the exposure of cut flowers, 
I acceded, “ Will” loudly proclaiming that “we” {ego et rex mens 
—enter the king and two fiddlers solus), had won four “ First 
Prizes.” Even the cottagers here are budding roses, the favourites 
being, General Jacqueminot, Geant des Batailles, Baronne Pre- 
vost, and Jules Margottiii, thus showing their good tastes in 
selecting four of the best roses in England for good habit, beauty, 
and continuity of blooming. They are roses which are good on 
all stocks, in all situations, in all seasons, wet or dry, and early 
and late in the year. To this lot, Gloire de Dijon may be well 
added. I may also observe, that my school children ask as a great 
treat, that they may be permitted to go down into the garden and 
have a look ; and, I must say, they are among the best judges of 
the flowers, for they do not admire the rose that is simply large, 
but the rose that is symmetrical, and of a clear and decided colour, 
and of well disposed petals. Of the value of thick petals, they 
cannot be expected to be aware. Permit me here to say, that 
judges of roses should do as the judges of cattle in Baker Street 
do, who award the gold medals to the most level animal,—award 
the prize to the box of roses which are most level in excellence, 
rather than to that which contains large flashy uiilevel roses. If 
these premises be admitted, my conclusion also must be admitted, 
