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| Note: | Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See https://archive.org/details/parsonsonrosetre00parsuoft |
PARSONS ON THE ROSE.
A TREATISE ON THE
PROPAGATION, CULTURE, AND HISTORY OF THE ROSE
BY
SAMUEL B. PARSONS.
NEW AND REVISED EDITION.
ILLUSTRATED.
NEW YORK:
ORANGE JUDD COMPANY,
1908
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, by the
O. JUDD CO.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
PREFACE TO NEW EDITION.
Some forty years ago the commencement and partial preparation of this work assisted to beguile the tedium of a winter’s residence from home, where even Orange and Magnolia groves with the novel vegetation of a semi-tropical region, could scarcely dispel the ennui attending a life of idleness.
We were then fresh from contact with some earnest rose lovers abroad. Rivers in England had impressed us with his enthusiastic energy, and, in Paris, the force of Hardy, the industry of Vibert and the charming manners of Laffay left enjoyable memories. For many interesting facts we were much indebted to Deslongchamps and several anonymous writers. To the former our obligations were due, both for the plan of this work and for many researches to which his name could not be conveniently attached on its pages.
Upon the classification we bestowed much thought, and now, after many years, we think it is still the best we could have made. Rose growers will, we think, find the labor of selection much diminished by its simplicity.
In directions for culture, we give the results of our own experience, and have not hesitated to avail ourselves of any satisfactory results in the experience of others which might enhance the utility of the work.
In the list of sorts published with the first edition there were nearly two thousand names. So great has[Pg 4] been the increase of varieties in forty years that it would be a work of labor to enumerate them. Some of the best varieties i