I take it for granted that the majority of your readers will agree with me when I state that there is no portion of the business of a gardener - be he professional or amateur - of greater importance, or demanding a larger amount of constant attention and forethought than that of having an abundant supply of the "queen of flowers" during the winter and early spring months. Roses, no doubt, are always prized and always welcome, but doubly so at the present season, when their delicate and beautiful colors and delicious fragrance delight the senses, and give us a glimpse of summer in advance. Hitherto the florists in the eastern cities - notably New York - had, to a large extent, a monopoly of the winter rose trade, and did an extensive and lucrative business with the various cities of the West. True, the florists in the latter grew roses more or less extensively, but neither in quantity or quality were they able to compete with the more favored growers of the East. It is unnecessary just now to enter into particulars showing how this may be accounted for; suffice it to say, that as a matter of fact there is no real difficulty in the way of growing as good roses five hundred or one thousand miles west of New York as in the latter city.

As a proof of the correctness of this statement I will briefly relate what I saw on the occasion of a. visit which I paid, a few days before Christmas, to the gardens of Mr. Gordon, situated in the, suburbs of the City of Cleveland, Ohio. Last spring Mr. Gordon decided to commence the cultivation of roses for winter, on a rather extensive scale, and rightly concluding that the way to secure success was by deserving it, he left nothing undone which was likely to aid in reaching the point aimed at. The result must certainly have far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. Previous to commencing the erection of houses in which to grow roses, Mr. Gordon wisely secured the services of one of the best rose growers in America, in the person of Mr. J. C. Gooding. Many of your readers have doubtless already heard of Mr. Gooding, he having gained a most enviable reputation while in charge of the rose-houses of Mr. T. J. Slaughter, of Madison, N. J. Under the superintendence of Mr. Gooding, Mr. Gordon erected two houses of the following dimensions, viz.: length, 150 feet; width, 32 feet; height, 16 feet. These houses may be described as three-quarter span, and are in every way admirably suited for the cultivation of roses.

In the center of each house is a raised bench or stage having a similar slope to that of the roof. On this stage is placed some twelve to fourteen inches of soil in which the roses are planted. The plants (Spring struck cuttings) had been placed in position in one of these houses about the first of September, those in the other nearly a month later. At the time of my visit nothing could possibly exceed the health and luxuriance of these plants. I should be afraid to repeat the number of blooms (which a reference to Mr. Gooding's book showed ) had been cut during the month or two the plants had been in bearing. I can, however, speak of the quantities of bloom to be seen in all stages of advancement, and no language could possibly be too strong to use in praising the quality of the flowers. I can honestly say that, for size, substance and color, I have never seen them excelled, and I have had some little experience in these matters. I measured some half-open buds of Cornelia Cook, and found the circumference to average eight to nine inches, whilst Catherine Mermet and Adam were equally fine in proportion. Indeed, it is useless particularizing, for every variety which Mr. Gooding had under cultivation yielded flowers of the most superb quality.

The principal varieties which he grows are as follows, viz.: Catherine Mermet, Cornelia Cook, Safrano, Souvenir d'un Ami, Perle des Jardins, Bon silene, Marie Guillot, Adam, Douglas, Niphetos and Duke of Connaught.

The leading principles adopted by Mr. Gooding in the cultivation of roses for winter blooming appears to be the securing of young, healthy plants, using a moderately free, rich soil in which to grow them, and giving all the light possible, together with a liberal allowance of heat and moisture. Whether he possesses any special secret other than the means just mentioned, whereby to command success, I am unable to say, but certain it is the results of his practice are eminently satisfactory.

The houses are heated by steam, the apparatus having been put up by the Exeter Steam Company. Mr. Gooding is very well pleased with the way in which it does its work, and with the editor's permission I propose having something to say on this system of heating in a future number.