produced a brilliant-coloured Hybrid Perpetual, and a numerous progeny of Great Western retain exactly the foliage and habit of that variety. As the latter have not flowered, it has yet to be seen whether they will vary in this respect. Tea Goubault crossed with Bourbon Souchet has produced two Summer Roses, the one having the characters of the Hybrid Chinese, the other those of the Hybrid Bourbon.

My friend M. Laffay once told me that he raised many of his splendid Hybrid Perpetual Roses from Athelin and Celine (Hybrid Bourbons), crossing them with the free-flowering varieties of Damask Perpetual and Bourbon. A few years since he took up a new idea-that of obtaining Hybrid Moss and Perpetual Moss Roses by crossing the Moss with the Hybrid Bourbon and Damask Perpetual. He has since raised several seedlings, some Perpetual Moss and some Hybrid Moss, the latter possessing the foliage and vigour of the Hybrid Bourbon Roses. The Princess Adelaide (Moss) was obtained in this manner. On the success of these and the like unions he is very sanguine, and says, much as he has done with Roses, he anticipates doing far more, and raising up such hybridizations and novelties as shall astonish the floral world. As he has already done so much, his intentions and prophecies deserve our respect. But why should France labour alone in this field? why should she have all the fame, reap all the profit? Cannot we assist her? Time is short. M. Laffay has already past the meridian of life, and the raising of seedling Roses is a tedious. operation.

If the Hybrid Bourbons crossed with the Moss produce perfect seeds, we may presume that the intermixing of the pollen grains of other species will be productive of like results. This, it will be seen, demolishes the idea of the necessity of restricting ourselves to the crossing of individuals of the same group. Not only may we choose the parents from different groups, but from different species. Where, indeed, is the line of demarcation? There appears no limit to the field of labour. We have to prove by actual experiment what can and what cannot be done.

It should be known, in choosing varieties for this purpose, that the least double kinds do not always perfect their seeds best. Such, upon less mature consideration, might appear to be the case, and has been asserted to be so, which error must have arisen from the want of close observation. It does not depend so much on the degree of fulness in a Rose, as upon some other cause to me altogether inexplicable, and not to be interpreted even by the acknowledged laws of the effects of hybridization; for some Hybrids seed freely, whereas others are sterile, although of the same origin and apparently similarly constituted. That the power of producing perfect seeds does not depend on the degree of fulness, may be established by the fact, that Pourpre fafait, a mongrel-bred Bourbon Rose, and others, too full to open their flowers at all times, ripen their seeds, although very many semi-double varieties rarely form a seed-pod. That it does not depend on their being Hybrids, (Div. I.)

may be inferred from the fact, that many of the Hybrid Chinese Roses, which are decided Hybrids, seed freely.

I have, by the aid of the microscope, examined numerous flowers, with the view of solving this difficulty. I have arrived at conclusions which may be considered sufficient for practical purposes; or what will prove still better, may induce others interested in the matter to push on the inquiry.

The flowers were divided into three classes. The first class examined was that which shewed no disposition to seed, where the seed-vessels did not increase in size after the falling of the petals. In this case I found the pistils huddled together, if I may so express myself, and apparently sterile; or, if not so, petals usurped the place of the pistils and stamens, extending into the ovaria or seedvessels. It was evident, then, that such could not seed.

In examining the next class, where there was a disposition to seed, where the seed-vessels increased in size after the falling of the flowers, but withered before arriving at maturity, I found the pistils placed separately, and they appeared perfect and healthy; but the stamens were either so few or so encased within the petals, that the pollen could not escape, and thus the flowers remained unfertilized. In some cases the flowers were pendant; owing to which position, and the relative length of the pistils and stamens, the latter rising above the former, the pollen fell away from, rather than upon, the pistils. In other cases, where the flowers stood erect, the pistils often rose above the stamens, when the same consequences were likely to ensue. Flowers of this kind will occasionally produce a pod of perfect seeds, which may be attributed to accidental fertilization, the conveying of the pollen by the insect tribe, or other causes.

The next class taken in hand was that which ripened its seeds freely.

The flowers here were found to have both stamens and pistils perfectly developed, the former abounding in pollen, which, in a more advanced stage of the flower, was seen plentifully scattered over the stigmas, whose cup-shaped summits were distinctly visible.

From these facts I draw the following conclusions:-1st, That certain varieties are sterile; incapable of forming perfect seeds under any circumstances. Of these I find such kinds predominate as roll the petals inward, the centre of the flower being quartered in the manner of a crown. In others the pistils are weak or imperfect.

2dly, That many kinds, where the pistils are perfect, whieh in their natural state form seed-pods that wither before arriving at maturity, may be induced to perfect their seeds by artificial impregnation. This class of Roses is the best for him who intends raising seedlings to choose his female parents from, because there is little here to interfere with, mar, or counteract his plans. There are certain kinds which must not be confounded with the above-kinds which, owing to the length of time the seed-vessels are in arriving at maturity, never perfect their seeds in this country.

3dly, That those kinds which we find seeding abundantly in their natural state are self fertilized, and that their abundant production of seeds is due to this point mainly, the more perfect development of the sexual organs, especially the polleniferous parts of fructification.

Waiving for a moment the distinctions above shewn, I shall collect here a list of twenty kinds, which ripen their seeds perfectly in this country in ordinary seasons:-Chénédolé, Marechal Soult, Duke of Devonshire, Général Allard (Hybrid Chinese); Athelin, Great Western, Charles Duval (Hybrid Bourbons); Du Luxembourg, Celina (Moss); Madame Laffay, Comtesse Duchâtel, William Jesse (Hybrid Perpetuals); Harrisonii (Austrian Brier); Bouquet de Flore, Malvina, Cérès (Bourbons); Gloire de Rosomène (Rose de Rosomène); Rosa Mundi (French); Russelliana (Multiflora); Splendens (Ayrshire).

These varieties are chosen because easy to deal with, and with them, or any portion of them, the operator may commence. He will see quickly the effects of his labour: there will be no disappointment, and he is thus encouraged to go on. He may then add the less certain and more desirable seeders at subsequent periods, when he has acquired, by practice, more knowledge of the art.

Having chosen the varieties, they should be planted in the sunniest spot in the garden, in a soil not too rich; for however favourable this condition may be to the production of fine flowers, it promotes a too vigorous vegetation for the perfect development of seeds. In pruning, the branches should not be shortened in very closely. Long pruning is most suitable here.

But the planting season has passed away, and a glance at our seed-bearers satisfies us they will soon be in flower. It will be but fair to suppose that they have had more, rather than less attention paid to them than plants in common, for they are more than usually interesting. The soil ought to have been hoed occasionally during spring, and watered during dry weather. The caterpillar should have been closely sought for by hand, and the aphis got rid of by syringing repeatedly with soot-water or tobacco-water.

It is seldom that all the flower-buds can be developed to advantage, and as they increase in size it will be seen which had better be removed. Secure a good portion of the earliest and boldest buds, but not all of such leave some in different stages of forwardness, that the work may be spread over a greater extent of time. Wherever buds are seen forming imperfectly, or in an unfavourable positionwhere they do not obtain the full sun-remove them at once.

Before we commence hybridizing, it is necessary that we should have fixed ideas of what we are going to do: we should have certain objects distinctly before us, and for the realization of those objects we must work. Without this, we cannot expect to obtain a full measure of success.

As a first step towards the attainment of these ends, let us consider what constitutes a good Rose, and fix the results of this inquiry firmly on the memory.

Those properties of the Rose to which Amateurs attach the greatest importance are-1. Habit of the trees; 2. Form of the flowers; 3. Colour; 4. Scent; 5. Freedom, constancy, and duration of flowering.

1. Habit. The growth of a tree should be free, not dwindling or delicate. It may be considered immaterial whether it be pendulous, branching, or erect, as each growth is desirable for certain purposes. Handsome foliage is important, and should be kept in view under this head. The offspring of the tender Roses may also be rendered less susceptible of frost by intermixing the latter with the hardiest varieties of the same or kindred groups.

2. Form.-A Rose may be equally good, whether cupped, globular, compact, or expanded. But of whichever form it may be, the petals should be thick and smooth, and the outline circular.

Annexed are representations of four Roses which may be considered models of their respective forms, which are explained at pages 8 and 9, Division II. Nearly all Roses may be brought under one or other of these forms: there are some few whose petals reflex in the full-blown and decaying stage of the flower, but we think the reflexed form untenable for a young bloom.

3. Colour.This, of whatever shade or tint, should be clear and full. The thick-petalled Roses usually present us with the richest tints, owing, I presume, to the greater body of colour : such are, therefore, desirable for this reason, as well

as on account of holding their flowers perfect a longer time than others. Need we add the desirableness of varying the colours of the groups?

4. Scent.-All Roses should be sweet. We cannot dissociate fragrance and the Rose.

"The Rose of brilliant hue, and perfumed breath,
Buds, blossoms, dies, and still is sweet in death."

There are, indeed, few kinds altogether scentless, although the degree of fragrance varies remarkably.

5. Freedom, constancy, and duration of flowering.-Some Roses are most profuse bloomers, presenting a splendid effect on the tree, but when viewed separately they are poor and flimsy. Others produce a less quantity of flowers at one time, but a regular succession, from which a good Rose may be gathered at almost any time in the season of flowering. Then the flowers of some are very transient, lasting but a day, although others will retain their form and colour for a week. These properties are inherent, for all kinds are not influenced alike by the state of the weather. We should seek to combine those kinds which possess the above-named properties in the most eminent degree.

The above, then, are a few broad principles, which, duly considered and acted upon, seem likely to lead to the farther improvement of our flower.

The question next arising is, Do certain properties proceed more from the one parent than from the other? and, if so, which and what are they? If we could (Div. I.)

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