Few persons who are more than a little fond of particular varieties of roses are aware of how recent is a really strong individuality in foreign varieties of their favorite flower.

The "Gloire de Dijon" dates from 1853. The "General Jacqueminot" was offered to the public in 1859. The "Maréchal Niel" (which beautiful rose seems lately unjustly out of vogue) was perfected in 1864. "La France" came in 1868. The "Madame Isaac-Pereire" is of 1880. "La Reine" is almost the oldest of the hybrids still beloved, having made its success in 1843.

The new and assumed varieties now put forth annually still reach the number of seventy or eighty. But the majority of them have no decisive characteristics to enable them to hold their own against others. The "American Beauty" and "Catherine Mermet" are the most significant additions within a few seasons to the general catalogue, and not yet in universal favor.