Old-fashioned Roses 
The Lester Rose Gardens 
No floiver in history is linked so intimately with human affairs as the Rose. In 
peace or tear, in joy or sorrow, in king’s castle or cotter’s home, in religion and 
in art, the record of its influence appears in song and story. Undisputedly she 
has reigned as Queen of Flowers for more than twenty-five centuries; today, 
as always, she is the treasured favorite of all who truly love gardens. 
HIS CATALOG differs from many catalogues you will receive; it has no 
gaudy and expensive colored illustrations, (which the customer pays for), 
and, I hope, no extravagant claims. But it does offer you the benefit of a life¬ 
time’s experience with roses; it tries to tell the truth; and it offers you nothing 
that has not been tried out and found to be of real merit, not for the expert 
horticulturist, but for the amateur gardener, whom we try to serve faithfully and 
whose interests we hold to be paramount. Descriptions are necessarily brief, but 
further detailed information or any planting suggestions desired will be gladly given 
on request. As for our prices, if you could see our stock you would agree they are most 
reasonable. 
We are not a big concern; we prefer doing a small business so that we can give 
individual attention to each order; therefore our stocks are limited and many items 
become exhausted before the season is over. Hence we ask you to ORDER AS EARLY 
AS POSSIBLE and so insure your order complete; we will ship at any later date you 
may request. 
Unless otherwise stated, we PREPAY DELIVERY CHARGES on all orders for 
$1.00 or more to any address in California; elsewhere on the conditions indicated. As 
our Roses are exceptionally large, this is an important consideration. Be sure to add 
the necessary 3 0 sales tax, please, on California orders. If requested when ordering we 
will expertly prune all roses, ready to plant. With each rose order, we enclose a free 
copy of Mr. Lester’s "How to Get the 
Most from Your Roses.” Terms are cash 
with order, or we will send C. O. D. if 
one-third is paid as a deposit. Please use 
the order blank on page thirty-one. 
—FRANCIS E. LESTER. 
Lester Photo 
A favorite for over 2000 year si 
The Ancient Castilian (Damask) Rose. 
Exceeding fair she was not; and yet fair 
In that she never studied to be fairer 
Than Nature made her; beauty cost her nothing, 
Her virtues were so rare. 
—All Fools. 
Old looses 
"Is not old wine wholesomest?” 
— Charles Kingsley. 
We agree there is a real thrill in growing a 
new, patented, rose introduction even though the 
price is high and it may be short-lived and a shy 
bloomer; and we appreciate the great improve¬ 
ments in many modern roses that have resulted 
from the patient work of our rose hybridists. But, 
frankly, we are very fond of the Old Fashioned 
Roses with their time-proven merits and their 
rare charm; "old friends are best”; and it is 
little wonder they are today regaining their 
original popularity, for they possess qualities 
that few new roses can offer. Chief among these is 
their enduring vitality, for while the large majority 
of our new roses of recent years disappear from 
lack of stamina, the old roses are with us today 
because of their proven ability to withstand the 
hazards of existence and to resist diseases and pests. 
They, more than the modern roses, lend them¬ 
selves to planting in perennial borders. Preem¬ 
inently they are the ideal roses for occupying 
neglected spaces in the garden where they will 
neither expect nor receive the care we bestow on 
We class as an Old Rose only those varieties that have been continuously grown for fifty years or more. 
