Among the hybrid perpetual roses none attract so much attention in my garden as the very dark ones. A great many people have an idea that Gen. Jacqueminot is about the only dark one grown. And they almost invariably exclaim when approaching a bed of dark roses: " I suppose these are Jacqueminots," when the fact is that the Jacqueminot as compared to our finest dark roses, is not a dark rose at all, but simply a red rose, and people are sadly disappointed when the celebrated General is pointed out to them. A few mornings since I gathered specimens of about a dozen varieties of the dark roses, and would arrange them as follows in the order of their general merit: Louis Van Houtte, Jean Liabaud, Baronne de Bonstetten, Prince Camille de Rohan, La Rosarie, Jean Soupert, Abel Carriere, Xavier Olibo, Pierre Notting.

Louis Van Houtte, combining great fragrance, beauty of form and freedom of bloom, I place first, although it is not as dark as several of the others. Jean Liabaud is almost the darkest one among them, and has great vigor and blooms freely but not continuously. Bonstetten and Prince Camille are quite similar with me, both very dark and of beautiful form, the former excelling in vigor and the latter in remontant qualities. La Rosarie and Abel Carriere are also quite similar, very dark, but with quite small petals, and not as good form as some of the others. Jean Soupert is the darkest rose among them, and of most beautiful form, but such a shy bloomer that I place it low on the list. Xavier Olibo is a very fragrant, beautiful rose, but not full, and must be watched closely to get one in perfection. Pierre Notting is strong, vigorous, and full of fragrance, but such a muddy tint of purple as to be undesirable. All the above roses grow darker as they wither and fade in the sunshine, a peculiarity which the crimson roses do not possess. Among the darkest crimson roses, Fisher Holmes, Horace Vernet and Charles Le-febvre, under high cultivation sometimes have a beautiful dark velvety shade, but in fading they get lighter instead of darker.

There are many among the crimson roses darker and more beautiful than Gen. Jacqueminot, whose principal merit for outside blooming is, the great freedom and continuity of bloom. Auburn, N. Y., July 16th.