MARCH. 
49 
Como. The first-named was exactly like Manetti in leaves and habit, but not 
a cutting would grow ; so, after some years I destroyed it, which I now regret. 
So highly is the Manetti stock esteemed in the United States, that I have sent 
some hundreds of thousands there ; and there is at this moment in the house 
an order for 50,000 for one nursery.” 
3rd. How I came by Manetti Roses. —Years ago I was at Mr. Gill’s 
nursery at Blandford. He said, “ Sir, I have something to show you—noble 
stuff, that will please you.” He then showed me the first specimens of Manetti 
Roses that I ever saw. They had just arrived from Mr. Francis, of Hertford. 
I saw, admired, and bought half a dozen plants. 
4th. What a mess I made of it. — Manetti Roses were not then propa¬ 
gated as low as they are now. I had no instruction, at that time, as to how 
they should be planted or pruned; so I made a nice mess of it! I planted 
them as briar Roses, and pruned them as such. The stock, being exposed to 
the sun, soon became indurated, and I never had any flowers from them worth 
speaking of; and in two years they died. Two of the kinds have long since 
passed from the catalogue. These four still remain, and, being now properly 
treated, are successful Roses—viz., Baronne Prevost, Triomphe de Paris, Geant 
des Batailles, and General Jacqueminot. I have long been a Manetti-ite, and 
the amount of pleasure and increasing satisfaction that I derive from them 
annually is very great. 
5th. How I got out of the mess. —I am not quite sure, but I believe it 
was as follows :—I was dining at my kind and valued friend’s, Mr. Sturt, of 
Critchill. He said, after dinner, holding up a red book—Mr. Rivers’s “ Rose- 
Amateurs’ Guide”—“ Plere is a book that will charm you.” I read it, and 
there discovered that the Manetti Rose requires to be covered with earth an 
inch or two over the line of union. This has ever since been done; and I and 
Manetti Roses have been good friends. 
6th. How I have been gibed. —I have withstood jeers of all kinds. 
“Well, these are birds of a fine feather, but will they last?”—“Ah! they 
are well enough the first year, but, if I come again next year, what shall I 
seer”—such were the gibes. Some of these suspicious satiricals have come 
again, and seen what has gratified them. There is an old saying, “ Let those 
laugh that win.” In 1861, after the destructive winter—after the sad havoc 
made among the briar Roses of England—I won. chiefly by the Manetti Roses, 
eight first prizes, beginning at Dorchester as early as the 13th of June. The 
other places were Shepton Mallet, Langport, Blandford, Reading (two prizes), 
London (two prizes in summer and in September). The September Roses, 
twenty-four trebles, were cut and conveyed to London by the distinguished 
“ D.,” of Deal, to whom I still confess a great debt of gratitude is due for 
saving me the toil of travel. I may observe that, when he saw the natural 
poverty and the dryness of the soil, he expressed himself astonished; nor less 
so at the manure bestowed upon them. 
7th. How, in the process of time people change their opinions. 
—I believe that we all live to moderate our opinions on most subjects ; but I 
have not moderated my opinions as regards Manetti Roses—not one word will 
I withdraw. Whilst some, however, have not candour enough to admit their 
change of opinions, there are others who are of a more generous nature. Two 
rosarians have candidly owned their failures with the briar Roses, and owned 
the virtues of the Manetti Roses. The first I name is Adolphus Kent, Esq., of 
Blechingley, Surrey, to whom the periodicals are much indebted. He has 
been here twice, and is coming again this year. He had once suspicions that 
the Manetti Rose would not last; but now he writes, “ The briar is a thing 
of the past; Manetti is the stock for me.” Moreover, he adds, “ Dr.-, of 
