Then the White Roses first show, and how inexpressibly pure they seem in the twilight. The deeper tints,-the blush, the pink, the rose,-follow in rapid succession; and as darkness flies away the crimson and the blacker hues rise in rich effulgence to complete the picture. How beautiful the foliage appears glistening with dew! The flowers, too, are rife with freshness and beauty. Is there not life in every fold? And what a delicious odour is borne on the surrounding air! As we gaze and admire there is little to disturb our meditations; the warblings of the feathered choristers alone break in upon the slumbering scene. Here is the consummation of our hopes in Rose-culture. And what a recompence for the toil we have sustained! Do we not feel as we admire, that

"Nature never did betray

The heart that lov'd her: 'tis her privilege,
Through all the years of this our life, to lead

Next to the morning's walk in the Rosarium a ramble at eventide is, perhaps,

the most delightful. The colours of many kinds have the same fervid glow; the same perfumes scent the air, but (alas that the life of our favourites should be so fleeting!) instead of the young and promising beauties of the morning, we gaze on Roses of mature age.

But these are not all the sweets attendant on the cultivation of flowers. As the Amateur scans the beauties which surround him, when satiated-if indeed satiety can be experienced here-with the sight, the reflections awakened by association in floricultural nomenclature afford him new sources of enjoyment. What an amount of virtue, learning, wit, valour, often congregate on a small plot in the flower-garden! How proud is the florist of his Catos, his Socrates', his Butlers, his peaceful Alexanders and Cæsars! There, kings and emperors are placed beside the subverters of dynasties and empires; there, warriors who have indulged in deadly strife exist together in the strictest amity-a Charles beside a Cromwell, a Scipio in company with an Annibal. In "rigid Cincinnatus, nobly poor," he reads a lesson on self-disinterestedness and magnanimity; in Buonaparte, however much he may be dazzled by the splendid genius of the man, he cannot but recoil from one who drenched the earth with blood as he ponders over the futility of human ambition. Then let him contrast the consequences of the tyranny and licentiousness of an Antony with those arising from the virtues and philanthropy of a Howard: the one, through his vices, lost a kingdom; the other, though an humble individual, conferred lasting benefits on thousands of his race, and earned in the work an honoured and imperishable name. And in admiring the objects bearing names like these, and indulging in the reflections awakened by association, does he not feel the mind expand, refine, aspire to imitate the good and shun the evil? But we have digressed very far, and must return to the practical part of our subject. With regard to the manner in which Roses should be grown, the habit of the variety may be taken as a guide. The vigorous growers would seem best adapted for Standard or Pillar Roses, unless of slovenly growth, when they are suited only for covering banks or for climbers. The kinds of moderate growth look well on Half-Standards, of which the annexed engraving (No. 33.) is a reprcNo. 33.

sentation. The kinds of delicate or dwarf growth are best on dwarf stocks or on their own roots; they rarely succeed well as Standards: besides which, a small head on a long stem is unsightly. No. 34. was taken from a dwarf variety of the French Rose.

But let us note a few thoughts respecting Climbing Roses. The groups best suited for this purpose are named at p. 53, Div. I. For covering walls and fences with north, north-east, or north-west aspects, the Ayrshire and Sempervirens are the best, because they are free bloomers and very hardy. There is a wall here with a north-east aspect against which the following varieties were planted about ten years ago:-Boursault: Amadis, Elegans, Gracilis, Inermis. Multiflora: Laura Davoust, Russelliana. Ayrshire: Ruga. Sempervirens: Felicité Perpetué, Leopoldine d'Orleans. Noisette: Cadot, Cerise, Grandiflora. The border, which extends about three feet from the wall, is paved with oyster-shells and covered with cinder ashes: on it Alpine and other plants are set in the summer months. Beyond the border is a hard gravel-walk; therefore the circumstances as well as situation are decidedly unfavourable. Nevertheless, these Roses have grown surprisingly. In four years they reached the top of the wall (8 feet), when three wires were placed one above the other, about a foot apart, being supported by iron uprights fastened to the wall at moderate distances. Although few plants would thrive under the above circumstances, these Roses receive no particular treatment: they are pruned and manured annually, and a few of the main branches are fastened to the wall just after pruning, to keep them from pressing on the plants beneath, or breaking with the weight of the flowers. They are mostly on their own roots, and the stem of the stoutest is thirteen inches in circumference. In the blooming season they are literally covered with flowers. When Climbing Roses are planted to cover unsightly trees, standing in positions where it is thought desirable they should remain, the same annual pruning and manuring is all the culture they require.

Pillar Roses are comparatively of recent introduction. They present a new feature in the Rose Garden, and deserve to be more extensively cultivated. No. 35.

was sketched from a plant of the Ayrshire Splendens, the best of the group for a Pillar Rose. The groups thought most suitable for this style of growth are named at p.53, Div. I.; but it must not be inferred that all the varieties of those groups are suitable: they require selecting, and those denominated vigorous, or robust, in the descriptive part of this work, are best for the purpose. But what are the proper supports for Pillar Roses? Iron is doubtless the most durable, but also the most expensive: nevertheless, where expense is not a primary consideration, it is thought preferable. The supports more generally used are larch poles, which have a very rustic appearance when cut from the woods with the snags left projecting a few inches: these hold the shoots in place, and prevent them from being torn about by the wind. But the want of durability is a great drawback on the value of these poles. In the course of three or four years, just as the Rose has covered the pole, the latter often decays at the surface of the ground, a strong gale of wind lays it prostrate, and the result is sometimes disastrous to the plant. To counteract this as far as possible, it is well to char about two feet of the lower end of the pole, inserting eighteen inches only in the ground. The advantage of larch poles for Pillar Roses is, the rustic appearance they present, relieving the often-tiring.

niceties of the Rose Garden: the advantage of iron supports is their durability. Will our readers kindly determine the value of their respective claims?

Two or more plants of different colours are sometimes placed together, and their branches so interwoven that a pied pillar is formed. This, to my taste, is as objectionable as two sorts on one stem, as the effect is not equal to that produced by plants of opposing colours placed side by side. Pillar Roses require more manure than others. In addition to the supply granted in spring when the soil is forked over, it is necessary to give a second supply in June, just after the plants have flowered, as recommended for the Autumnals. Pillar Roses are often found bare of branches and flowers at their base, due, usually, to their having been carried up too quickly, or to poverty of soil. To remedy this defect, reduce their height when pruning, and enrich the soil, when eyes will be developed at the base, and the upward growth may be again encouraged.

The Weeping Rose (No. 36) is the last form of which we have to speak. Can

any thing be more beautiful? In windy situations an iron trellis is indispensable: in sheltered places a hoop, as shewn in No. 19, is sufficient. It accelerates the perfecting of the Weeping Rose to thin out the supernumerary shoots in July, after the tree has flowered. We advise cutting off the flower-stalks in all cases