Your letter (which we hope to receive), will be answered by 
Mrs. Dorothy Stemler, ‘‘Hon. Secretary,’’ hard-working and efh- 
cient, who through some undue modesty, begs her physical attri- 
butes remain undescribed. Spends much of the summer in the 
growing fields . . . knows more about the personal habits of our 
roses than any of us. . . likes humans. 
The catalog-writer surveys ‘‘the irrepressible Will Tillotson’’ 
with many misgivings and feels the less said the better. Variously 
described, according to taste, as something mid-way between 
Monty Woolley and an old goat (the beard and the stubbornness, 
no doubt). Grows the roses WE like, regardless of profit . . . is 
Jack of All Trades in our business and certainly master of none. 
aaa some people, shuns others. You definitely wouldn't like 
im. 
At this point the printer suggests we stop all this verbiage and folderol 
and get on with the matter to hand. 
So the catalog-writer views with some dismay this year’s still 
greater stack of field notes, customer comments and reference 
books, unties the “‘old sack of adjectives’’ and submits his efforts 
to your tender mercies. 
Of the 400 varieties to be described, about 190 are segregated as 
“Old-Fashioned and Unusual,’’ 17 Moss Roses, 46 Polyanthas and 
Floribundas, and 138 Moderns. An index inside the front cover, 
is a happy addition. Our phonetic efforts to pronounce the French 
names of roses herein, will not give either of us the suave inflec- 
tions of a Sascha Guitry, but may entertain your garden visitors. 
Without undue ego, we believe this to be an unusually large and 
outstanding collection of beautiful roses. Much is yet to be done 
to attain the perfection we seek,—that collection of 300 ideal va- 
rieties, old and new, which ts our goal. 
Those of you who have received prior editions will continue to 
forgive us if we include the best of the old quotations for the pleas- 
ure of new readers. We are happy to add several new customer 
comments to be rewarded in small measure, by the usual gift of 
roses. Our hearty thanks to all who have contributed, especially 
the much quoted authorities, T. Hilling Nurseries, England, and 
the Thomasville Nurseries, Thomasville, Georgia. Would that 
we could thank directly, also, the great English rosarian, William 
Paul who lived in the heyday of the Teas and Hybrid Perpetuals, 
and Dean Reynolds Hole, whose life and writings have done so 
much to glorify the Queen of Flowers. 
HOester and ©illotson GRose @Gardens 
Marjorie W. Lester WILL TILLOTSON 
a 
‘A rose, A child, A bird, A star— 
Those are my loves, better than ye who can.” 
