PLANTING.

November and December are so well known to be favourable months for planting the Summer blooming Roses, that it is thought by many amateurs no others are or can be so eligible: applied to dry sandy soils this idea is quite correct; but on wet retentive soils February is much better, as the holes can be opened in winter so that the mould is pulverised by frost. In light soils a mixture of well-rotted manure, and rich stiff loam from an old pasture, giving to each plant, if a standard, a wheelbarrow-full, if a dwarf, about half that quantity, will be found the best compost: if the soil is stiff, half a wheelbarrow-full of manure mixed with the natural soil will be quite sufficient.

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THE

AUTUMNAL ROSE GARDEN.

To Autumnal Roses we are much indebted for that prolonged season of interest which this

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Queen of Flowers" now gives. The roses of June, however splendid, soon fade; but some Perpetual, or Noisette, or Bourbon roses enrich our gardens with their perfume and gay colours, till the chills of approaching winter prevent the expansion of their flowers. Among the most fragrant of these autumnal beauties are

PERPETUAL ROSES.

This division has as much variety in its origin as in its appearance: it would, indeed, be a difficult task to trace the parentage of some of the justly esteemed varieties of this family. Our old red and white monthly roses have, no doubt, contributed their share of sweet assistance; for, in many of them, the powerful fragrance of these two very old damask roses is apparent, and no perfume can be more pleasing.

In preference to giving a slight history of the family at the commencement, I shall, as I describe them, at the risk of being tedious, give the supposed origin of most of the varieties; premising, that all those termed true perpetuals have, generally, a terminal cluster of buds at the end of each shoot, whether produced in spring, summer, or

autumn.

Antinous is a new rose, evidently between the French Rose and Crimson Perpetual, equalling that fine rose in form and fragance, and surpassing it in beauty of colouring; but it partakes rather more than it ought to do of the French Rose, as it is not a True Perpetual. However, it often puts forth its fine crimson-purple flowers in September; it will therefore be much esteemed, as we have hitherto been accustomed to roses of more sober hues in that pleasant month. Billiard, so named from a French rose amateur, is a pretty bright rose, very fragrant and double, and a True Perpetual. Belle Italienne approaches very near to the Crimson Perpetual, except that its flowers are larger, and not quite so double: this is also a True Perpetual. Bernard, or Pompon Perpetual, is a most beautiful new rose, with rather small flowers; but these are very double and finely shaped, of a delicate carmine colour: this is a True Perpetual, and a most desirable rose.

The Crimson Perpetual, Rose du Roi, or Lec's

Crimson Perpetual, deserves a few extra words of comment. This fine rose was raised from seed, in 1812, in the gardens of the palace of Saint Cloud, then under the direction of Le Comte Lelieur, and named by him Rose du Roi; owing, I suppose, to Louis the Eighteenth soon after that time being restored, and presenting an opportunity for the Comte to show his loyalty: it is not recorded that he changed its name during the hundred days to Rose de l'Empereur! It is asserted that it was raised from the Rosa Portlandica, a semi-double bright-coloured rose, much like the rose known in this country as the Scarlet Four-Seasons, or Rosa Pæstana; which Eustace tells us, in his Classical Tour, grows among the ruins of Pæstum, enlivening them with its brilliant autumnal flowers. This is treated as a traveller's tale by one or two of our English botanists, and the Rosa Pæstana is said to have been originated from seed in England: but was that seed from Italy?

Every gentleman's garden ought to have a large bed of Crimson Perpetual Roses, to furnish bouquets during August, September, and October; their fragrance is so delightful, their colour so rich, and their form so perfect.

Crispata, or the Curled Perpetual, is one of those whimsies of nature, more curious than pretty. Each leaf is curled, and forms a ring, giving an odd appearance to the plant. De Neuilly is a hybrid Bourbon of great excellence, having all the

peculiar beauty of the Bourbon Roses, with the fragrance of the Damask Rose. It is a most abundant autumnal bloomer, and ought to be extensively cultivated. De Rennes is a True Perpetual, of first-rate excellence, with large and very double flowers. Délice d'Hiver is a splendid rose, with large and finely-shaped flowers, of that vivid rose-colour so much admired; also a True Perpetual. Désespoir des Amateurs, or Perpetuatissima, had its origin in Italy, from whence it was ushered into France, with its high-sounding names, equally ridiculous; for, in reality, the rose, though pretty and fragrant, is much below many in this division. It is a hybrid of uncertain origin, and totally unlike any other rose in habit, which is dwarf and rather delicate.

Flon, Gloire des Perpetuelles, and La Mienne, are roses of the same race or breed, and have the same leading features, differing only, and that but little, in the size of their flowers.* They are all True Perpetuals, and abundant bloomers, with a peculiar and pretty habit; for their foliage has a soft appearance, and, when the plants are covered with their brilliant red flowers, no Perpetual Roses are more beautiful. Ferox is quite unique, and very magnificent, having larger flowers than any other in this division; but it is

* This difference is now found to be imaginary, and owing to local circumstances.