2 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
pruning or training, the shape of one or both may be completely 
altered in half a summer. Thus we see no real objection to 
their arrangement in groups; and in fact, so far does our opinion 
incline to the contrary, that we believe the Rosary to be the only 
place in which their loveliness can be estimated to the full. 
We therefore proceed to briefly consider some of the circum¬ 
stances affecting their arrangement in this manner. The best 
situation for a Rosary, if choice can be made, is on a gentle de¬ 
clivity facing to the south-east: an easy slope is to be preferred, 
because the plants receive more light, and are seen to greater 
advantage than when growing on a level surface, and the com¬ 
partment itself looks larger ; and also because the superfluous 
moisture will pass off quickly in such situations, for, though Roses 
delight in a rich retentive soil, they receive much injury, in 
common with all plants, from stagnant aqueous matter in the 
soil. 
In the disposition of the plants, the taste of the designer, 
aided by local circumstances, must be the chief guide : a few- 
general rules, however, may assist the most refined ; thus, for 
instance, the superiority of an arrangement would be self-evident 
in which the several families or classes were in juxtaposition, 
allowing the hybrids or doubtful kinds to approach the nearest 
to their affinities, so that if a division were occupied with the 
varieties of China Roses, the next should contain their hybrids, 
followed by Perpetuals or Bourbons according to the class the 
hybrids partake of: the arrangement in the beds requires but 
little explanation, being only to place the more vigorous kinds 
towards the centre, and to include as great a variety of colours 
as possible. Standard Roses are fine objects when planted 
singly, either in the centre of the beds or on the turf, though 
the number of them should be limited, as too many take from 
the appearance of the whole, by excluding from view the dwarf 
kinds in their rear, and by imparting an air of confusion where 
everything should be as regular and neat as art can make it; a 
grove of them, however, may be allowed as an appropriate back¬ 
ground. 
We are entirely opposed to the introduction of what is called 
“natural scenery” in Rosaries: thickets and jungles of Roses 
may be read of with pleasure, but they present a very untidy 
appearance in a garden, and we should therefore endeavour to 
possess the whole with a classic and chaste regularity, as being 
